This is not a happy story, but it is a story which must be told.
Yesterday Martha and I picked up a USAToday after breakfast. We were drawn by the headline: “Suspect opening up to police: Tsarnaev, unable to talk, writes; responses said to be ‘substantive.’ ”
We had gone to sleep the previous night with the suspect unable to communicate. We were amazed at the headline. As we read the story, we started talking about this 19 year old.
Our conversation first moved to the idea of this man dropping off his bomb between eight year old Martin Richard and his six year old sister. Martin was killed by the bomb and his sister lost a leg. Reportedly, Tsarnaev looked Martin in the eye as he left the bomb.
We were grieved that anyone could do such a thing without remorse.
Our conversation next moved to what it must have been like to be on the run for two days. Who of us can imagine being in gunfights, being shot, and running from a whole city?
But then, our conversation hit the apex of thought.
Can you imagine being where Dzhokrar Tsarnaev is? Can you imagine being in a hospital in the darkest time of your life and having no one with you?
Can you imagine being without God in your life? Can you imagine following a god who doesn’t hear or speak?
I was stunned at the thought. As I give my testimony, I mention two things I’ve never experienced. Once I gave my life to Christ, all of life changed.
I’ve never been alone, and I’ve never been without hope.
I cannot imagine going through life without God, yet this 19 year old is “without hope and without God” in the most awful time of his life.
Unfortunately, most of the world is without hope and without God, worshiping gods who are no gods. Most of the people of the world experience aloneness and hopelessness on a daily basis.
Let us be those people who help others know the Lord God of Israel who revealed Himself in Christ Jesus the Lord.
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3 Responses
Thank you, Pastor. I so needed to be reminded of that today.
Thank you for being so faithful and teaching us to know we are never alone, but serve a wonderful Savior.
The surgery went well this morning.
Again, I guess it is just me. When the young man was captured alive I rejoiced. Yes, I was glad that he might be able to bring an understanding to the situation. But, more, I was glad that he had the opportunity to mature to understand what he had done. I was glad that he had an uncle that prayed for him and with him; and who called him to repent of his crime. I considered my education and life experience with people that age who need a purpose and make no connection between their actions and consequences for themselves or especially for others.
Yes, I rejoiced in Hope for the young man and the witness he may become for Christ and prayed just that prayer for him and Us.
I am amazed to find myself again, the odd one out in this thinking among my “christian” brethren. I remember George Bush as Governor of Texas and the ministry of David Crosby to a convicted murderess on death row. The difference she made to David and many others as a repentant Christian. The incident tells much about “We the People,” the Law, and who or what is honored in our society.
I thank God for David Crosby, George Duke and many others, as you have mentioned, who pushed to find the boundaries of Light and the Blessings of God in Christ Jesus. Everyone should spend time at the Brantley Center, the largest Southern Baptist facility for the homeless, rehabilitation and facilitator to those in need in the New Orleans Area & South. Oh, that’s right. The real-estate was too valuable, the location too prominent, the demands of the ministry too large. There must be something I don’t understand. I guess David Crosby doesn’t either, as he pressed for so many of the home mission ministries in New Orleans not to be shut down.
Incidentally, since Katrina I have heard that the most 501c-3’s, anywhere in the United States that have been newly formed, have been in New Orleans. Seems God is at work, His people hear His Call and have come from all over to minister without the education, experience and facilities the Southern Baptist had, until Katrina. It takes the employment of Romans 12:5 to make such things work. As a Southern Baptist, I pray for my Brethren and remind myself my work at those facilitates that no longer exist is not lost, it was offered to our Lord and Savior, the most important element in the equation of Life. Not alone and not without Hope but sad in seeing potential not realized. The lesson of the Balance is in this somewhere, everywhere.
Interesting.
Blessings