News has broken about a gunman entering a school in CT and killing (at the time of this writing) nearly 30 kids and adults. We have worked at getting our Christmas attitude right, focussing on the birth of our Lord, getting in a festive mood. And then this happens. What is wrong with this world?
If we try to make sense of it, we will go crazy ourselves. Truth is…our world is not fair, just, right, good! It is broken, under the curse of sin… my sin and your sin. Paul says that all creation groans for the day of redemption. Innocent lives were lost because of sin.
Do not think for a minute that God is punishing anyone with this tragedy. That is not what God does. Where was He then when the kids and adults were being shot? He was right there with them. Why didn’t he stop the gunman? I don’t know. I do know that His heart was broken by the death of these people. I know that they did not die alone. I know that He did not stop the Romans from driving nails into His hands and putting Him to death. I do not know why, and no one ever will until we reach the shore of the Promised Land in Heaven.
So for now, grieve with the families. Pray for them. Pray for the family of the gunman. And leave the ‘why’ to Jesus.