A Bloody Week In America

The news came fast and furious, leaving little time to take one incident in before another event assaulted the senses.

It began with a mighty massacre at an immigration center in upstate NY. When the dust settled, thirteen had been gunned down in a gruesome slaying. Then days later, three police officers were ambushed and killed in Pittsburgh, PA. That was followed by the horrific murder of five children by their jealous dad in Washington State.

Like other places in the world, America is more and more becoming the home of random acts of brutality and senseless violence. This new way of life has many asking the question, “What is going on in our country?” The short answer is the same as it is anywhere else on planet earth: sin.

In a few days, Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, will arrive. And for those who ‘truly’ understand its meaning, there is no question as to why evil and violence exist. But for those to whom the holiday is simply candy, eggs, bunnies, and a new outfit for their semi-annual trip to church, the question of evil remains.

Good Friday and the glorious Sunday that follows it is about sin and a loving God’s response to it. It is about a sinless Savior who voluntarily took the guilt and penalty of a rebellious world and became literal sin for all. Paul presents that incomprehensible truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Philippians chapter two describes this miraculous sacrifice. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

The reason for, and the reality of, human sin is explained in graphic detail in Romans chapter one. Those searching for the ‘why’ of evil and a broken world need look no further. But for any desiring to go beyond why sin exists and locate a solution to the same need to continue on in the book.

Before long they will land in chapter three and verse twenty-three where they will discover that all sin is an offense to a Holy God, not just those things of the caliber of a ruthless mass murder. Paul informs in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then a few chapters later they will fix their gaze on words where the writer reveals the penalty for sin and the solution to sin just one short verse. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

All that is needed now to complete the inquiry is to discover what must be done to receive the ‘gift’ that deals with the plague and punishment for sin. That will be explained clearly in chapter ten. The Apostle records there “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)

Yes, it has been a bloody week or two in America, and something that will likely be repeated again before long. These kinds will also likely remain a terrible mystery to many in a nation forced to deal with increasing forms of evil and acts of brutality.

There are others, however, who fully comprehend the cause and remedy for wickedness of any caliber. These have experiencd eternal life in Jesus Christ. They have gained salvation through their understanding and positive reaction to their Savior's blood-based solution to sin. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.' (Ephesians 1:7)

All evil, on any level, is about sin. And dealing with all sin, on any level, is what Easter's crucfixion and resurrection is all about!

Bill Breckenridge