This Past Weekend

Like with most weekends, I got to spend time with family and friends this past weekend.  It was nice...

This past weekend, a young girl tried to end her life, a baby boy waited for a heart transplant, a wife and husband ended their "lifelong" journey, a teenager became an addict, a young boy passed away to cancer, and a woman shot and killed a man.  
This past weekend, was not as a nice as I thought.  

While I worshiped in church this past weekend, someone was being beaten to death.  While I partook of the communion with my brothers and sisters, a young man cut himself again.  And while I enjoyed dinner out with family, a brand new runaway hit the streets of Skidrow.  

And now I reflect... how is it possible for such evil things to take place in the same world that beautiful and wonderful things occur?  How is it that while some are rejoicing about the good in this world, others are partaking in evil?  How is that good and evil abide under the same majestic sky?  And while some of us are seeking peace and God's will, others are doing wrong... How is it possible, Lord?  And are you even aware?  Where are you, Lord, in all of this?

"I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things." Isaiah 45:7

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." Proverbs 16:4

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." Genesis 50:20

My dear friends, let's not be blindsided.   The reality of this world is that evil and suffering distorted the perfect relationship and place that God intended for us.  I have friends who are suffering today because of it.  
So while it is a precious thing that we serve the Lord and congregate and share with others, let's not forget that there are others who have still to experience the hope, grace and forgiveness we have.  Moreover, let's be more intentional about sharing the gifts that God has blessed us with so that more and more people will also be rescued as we once were.  
We are living in a spiritual warfare.  Every time, one of us kneels before God in worship and surrender, someone else is being tormented somehow.  It could be someone you know or someone you've never met.  But Satan is at war trying to make havoc all over this world...  Just take a quick look at the news.

That doesn't mean we stay silent, in fear of what he may do.  It means we shout praises to the true God and lift our hands to Him in surrender and live our lives seeking to glorify Him in everything so that we may be, the light of this dark world, as God intended for us to be.  If you are wondering what your purpose for living is, this is it!  You are a light in a dark world.  That's your weapon.  Therefore, Shine! 

And therefore, God makes all things new... God brings life to the dead.  He alone brings hope to the hopeless and despaired.  God is the Light of the world.  And every evil or suffering, can and will ultimately be used to bring Him glory.  

So in the midst of your plans for the weekend, don't forget that there are those whose weekend won't be as nice as yours.  Don't forget that we are still at war.  And you must be the one to stand in the gap and Shine for Christ for His glory and honor.