A Cold, Cruel World

"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." Matthew 10:28 I love a good mystery. Not necessarily a mystery about a robbery or other mild mannered subject. Nope. I love a good murder mystery. I know I probably shouldn't, but I do. When Investigation Discovery pans under the screen, "Are you an ID addict?" I answer yes. Now I don't like the ones involving really nasty stuff, just a mundane 'who done it'. No kids or anything like that. Just a 'I killed my husband because he forgot to make the bed' kind of thing. Intrigue and suspence. Really like it. When crime gets personal however, it's a different matter. I have a response like anybody does....why? Why my friend? Why now? Why so brutal? I guess when I watch it or read it and it didn't happen to someone close to me, it's a different story. I forget that every violent act happens to somebody's daughter, wife, or friend. Our world is becoming more brutal every day. To write this post, I looked up some crime stats. In 2012 there was a 1.9% increase in violent crime nationwide. There was a 1.5% increase in property crimes and a 3.2% increase in arson. There was very little difference in a metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area. The mid-west, however, was up 2.5% in violent crime. Then I had a look at Springfield, since it is the closest city to where I live. In 2012 as compared to 2011, there were 269 more violent crimes, 5 more murders, 16 more reported rapes, 27 more robberies, and 218 more cases of aggravated assault. I also had a personal encounter with crime, where 2 people close to me were robbed. One was a car break in where a purse was stolen. Mainly inconvenient, as cards had to be cancelled, etc. The other was a home break in where a substantial amount of money was taken. Money they really needed. In both situations, however, I was just really glad they were not hurt. That's all that mattered at the time. Then, it was a little frightening to hear of a double murder near where we camp a lot. 2 older people in a cabin on the lake, beaten to death by two troubled teens. Wow. Now camping doesn't feel so carefree either. Not much seems carefree anymore. When my kids were little, they left the house in the morning, and most of the time I didn't see them until they were hungry. I knew they were in the neighborhood exploring with the other kids who lived on our street. I wasn't the least bit worried. My biggest worry would be a broken arm or bicycle wreck. Oh yeah, my daughter was injured once. It was when her playmate "bit her back" (and I don't mean her backside, I mean in retalliation for the first bite!). Anyway, we were pretty carefree then, and even more so when I was a child. Not so now. My kids keep their children pretty close. They need to. The world is just different than it was back years ago.It certainly doesn't feel safe anymore. It isn't safe anymore. Just watching the network news can put you in a complete meltdown. Story after story of man's inhumanity to man. Vicious, mind-blowing stories, some almost unbelievable due to their graphic nature. Demonic. Jesus had his own run-ins with demonic presence. In the gospels, there are many instances of Jesus driving demons out of the people who were brought to him for healing. He also had that close encounter with Satan himself in the wilderness. In my mind, many of the violent crimes committed in our country seem to have demonic influence. There is just no explanation for the cruelty and sadistic nature of some of these events other than demonic influence. I believe we open the door to this influence by allowing our minds to be damaged by violent films, pornography, drugs, and other behaviors scripture warns us about. Mr. Lucado quotes verses that are to give us comfort when we fear the violence of our world. They are: Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." Psalms 62:8 - "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalms 32:7-" You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." 2 Samuel 22:2-3 -"He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me." Psalms 118:6 - "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" So, do these scriptures mean we will never be subjected to the violence in this world? I don't believe so. I know too many Christian people who have experienced some of the cruelest acts imaginable. Mr. Lucado says we need to remember that Satan cannot reach us without passing through Him. And what about the violence our Lord suffered in his crucifixion? Doesn't get much worse than that. I believe these scriptures show us that relationship with Christ will keep us safe in our soul. We may suffer unbearable trials. But God will be there for us. We do not need to have a spirit of fear, because God will comfort and protect us. He will pick us up and hold us as we go through whatever it is we must endure. And knowing that, ultimately, we will be with Him for eternity is comfort in itself. We DO win in the end. Does all this mean we should not take precautions to avoid violence? Alarm systems, locking our cars and doors, taking care not to put ourselves in situations where attack would be easy? Of course not. We should be prudent in our protection of family and property. But the Bible tells us that even if we fall victim to this epidemic of violence, He will be there for us. He will get us through it. And He will provide some good out of every situation. We may not always know what it is, but He does not waste the suffering of His children. I subscribe to the Voice of the Martyrs. I may have mentioned Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. I receive a monthly newsletter, depicting events of suffering and violence all over the world TODAY because of the love of Christ. In every story, there is evidence of God taking a terrible act of violence and using it for the good or salvation of others. Others who we would bet would NEVER find Christ. But our God can and does turn things around like this every day. You see, we are so attuned to the here and now, that it is sometimes hard for us to see the eternal impact of a situation. But eternity is the time frame that God operates on. That's why His ways are not our ways. He has a whole different perspective. So I will find my courage in His Word, my hope in His precepts. I pray that no one I know will face an act of violence on this earth. But I know that if we do, He will be there. Right there with us through it all. And we are the winners in the end, through Him. Nothing better than that.

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