In Response to the VA Tech Shootings...

By: Ed Young
Pastor, Fellowship Church, Dallas, TX

America is once again sadly united in grief as we learn more about the deaths of 33 students and faculty members on the campus of Virginia Tech. When tragedy strikes in such devastating proportions, it’s natural for us to look heavenward and ask, “Why?” And that’s exactly where we should be turning with our questions and doubts, because this fallen world will never be able to supply the answers we need in times like these.

The shootings yesterday prompted me to revisit my journaling from the morning following September 11, 2001. During that time, God spoke these truths to me:

EVIL IS RAMPANT. Because we are created in the image of God, we have been given a free will. True love is not a forced love, and we have the opportunity to choose. We either choose to love God or we don’t. Those who have not come into a relationship with him have turned their backs on God. Some individuals have gone so far in their rebellion that they are way out there in never-never demonic land and evil is rampant. So, God didn’t cause this. Evil did.

GOD IS IN CONTROL. God was not surprised by what happened yesterday. The Psalmist said this in Psalm 103:19, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.” In his sovereignty, God is calling the shots and we don’t have to worry. He is in control and wants us to trust Him with each and every aspect of our lives.

LIFE IS FRAGILE. When those students and faculty went about their usual morning routines yesterday, little did they realize that they would be stepping from this life to the next. We are not really prepared to live until we are prepared to die. The Bible says that one day we will stand before God and everything in our lives that is not built on people or the church, those two entities which will last forever, will crumble. This tragedy is a wake-up call for those of us who call ourselves believers to get serious about understanding the implications of walking with the Lord and to share that good news with the many people around us who are asking those deep questions of the soul.

GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY. One section of scripture has been the theme verse for the Young family for generations. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” God is trustworthy, and he is using this to draw people to him. It’s a good thing people are asking these questions, and we have an opportunity to further God’s kingdom. Don’t miss it.

Monday’s events are a reminder of the mission field of the body of Christ. There are lost and hurting souls all around us. Let us seize this sense of urgency to reach out to those in our community who so desperately need our Savior. And as we join together in this fight, we can’t forget to build strength for the battles ahead.

There are those of you who might be in the trenches of painful tragedies in your personal lives. These might not be of national proportions — airing on the evening news or printed in the local papers — yet the circumstances cause you to question God's plan and ask, "Why?" We should remember that with every question, we have the chance to deepen our walk with God and share the good news of His peace and comfort with the world.

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Draw close to Him. Celebrate what’s good. Savor each sweet day.
Philippians 4:4-9
The Message