Tears for Las Vegas!

The massacre in Las Vegas has me wide awake at night. The question that rolls through my head is, “how could this happen?” Of course, some people have already made the decision to fight for more gun control. Still others advocate to take the guns away from civilians totally, and trust the government to protect us. Really?

If you take all the guns away from the people, only criminals and “important” people will have guns. Know this, both of these two classes of people will never be without weapons. So, if you disarm the populace, crime and haughty aristocracy will dominate the defenseless masses.

However, the question is bigger than gun control and politics. How could the massacre in Las Vegas happen? It is inconceivable to me that one individual could commit this heinous crime all alone.

Weapons of the type that were found in the shooters possession were rare, heavy, expensive, and cumbersome. And then there is all that ammunition. I have a couple of .22 caliber rifles. Ammo for them is heavy. Can you imagine how heavy military style ammunition is? I am told by experts that only highly trained professionals would know how to assemble, load, and operate the militia-style arsenal the shooter accumulated.

Forgive me for doubting the reports of the media, but, I doubt the reports of the media. This man could not have done this by himself. There has to be more to this story. And we are not going to like the truth when it is revealed.

At the point of writing this blog, no motive has been revealed. But I already know that the motive is sin. You see, God did not instruct the shooter to do this. God’s mind is rich in mercy and love (Ephesians 2:4-5). There is only one twisted mind that can conceive this horror, and that is the devil. He lies (John 8:44), steals, kills, and destroys (John 10:10). Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Within the last few weeks, we have endured a total eclipse of the sun that upset the nation, three massive hurricanes, a heretic preacher claiming the world will end, and the worst shooting in the history of the USA. What is going on? Stop the crisis! Stop the pain!

So, why did God allow the pain of such carnage and destruction? C.S. Lewis wrote in his book The Problem of Pain: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” I cannot answer the questions I have posed. But I am old enough to know this: God is Faithful! He stands with the mortified and grief-stricken. When your life is caving in, God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).”

While God did not create these calamities, He is speaking to America through them. We have lost our way, but there is hope. In our painful experiences, He calls us to return to righteousness and faith. The world provides joy that is temporary, wealth that corrupts, and glory that quickly fades. But only Jesus provides real life, “abundant life (John 10:10)!”

Let us pray for the survivors and families of those who lost loved ones in Las Vegas. May the Lord heal the wounded, and comfort the grieving. Psalm 34:18 ESV – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Please pray now. God bless you!