Shocking Multi-Massacres

It is the worst mass murder in the state’s history. Twenty-eight-year-old Michael McLendon began his brief reign of terror by gunning down several members of his own family before traveling to another location and killing 3 more random victims, then shooting himself to death.

McLendon fired some 200 rounds total but was reported to have had more ammunition at his disposal had the rampage continued. As is often the case, the killer, who had once trained as a police officer, was described by his previous employer as a "reliable team leader" who was "well-liked.” The gruesome event took place just before another hideous scene outside Stuttgart, Germany, where a gunman returned to his former school and proceeded to kill 15 in that nation’s worst school shooting ever. The 17-year-old eventually tuned the weapon on himself to avoid capture by the police. The two events also just followed the horrendous murder of a pastor in his own pulpit last Sunday in Illinois.

It is safe to say that none of the 26 or so dead in these three separate incidents had any thought of entering eternity and facing their Creator on the days where they drew their last difficult breaths. Each one likely had a schedule for their day and plans for their night. They had lives to live but had no warning that their lives might quickly end – or did they?

The wisdom books of the Bible give ample warning on how to view each day as it comes. Solomon put it this way to his son. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1) The New Testament counterpart reads this way. “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-16)

The tragic events in Alabama, Illinois, and Germany reveal some negative biblical truths:

- The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9)
- God’s adversary, the devil, continually seeks to destroy. (1 Peter 5:8)
- Death and judgement will come to all at some time. (Hebrews 9:27)
- It is frightening to die and be unprepared to face a holy God. (Hebrew 10:31)

But the events of the last week can also point to positive and corrective biblical solutions:
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13)

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Bill Breckenridge