I am appalled at what I am seeing and reading in my daily news. Violence in our nation is rapidly becoming a way of life. If we do not like another person’s stance on a particular issue, we now regard that person as an enemy, one that needs to be silenced. And violence is becoming an acceptable means to that silencing.
We see violence in our streets, on our roads, in our homes. We see it on our campuses, in our workplaces, in our cities and in our government. You cannot post something on social media that another finds offensive without getting a backlash of nastiness.
We are supposed to be a “civilized society.” I thought that meant solving our problems apart from violence. Apparently, not. But then while I am appalled, I am not surprised. Violence has been around since God created mankind. Genesis, Chapter 6, tells the story of Noah and the violence that was on the earth during his day.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart …. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” [6:5-6, 11 NKJV]
The violence we are experiencing is not something new. It is not something outside of us. It is not even because of the issues we face … it is because “the thoughts of [our hearts are] only evil continually.”
Until our hearts are changed, nothing changes. We are as “uncivilized” as they were in the days of Noah when God saw the great wickedness of mankind and was “sorry that He had made man[kind] on the earth.”
God sent Jesus to open to us the way to change our hearts. But we must allow Him to do so.
Thank you, LORD, for the way provided in Christ Jesus our Savior and LORD. I pray for revival in our nation.
