There are evil men behind every rock out here.”
–J. Lee Butts (Lawdog)
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
–2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
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“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1, KJV) I know that this pertains to nations, but in those nations there are segments, sects, and individuals who are used by the devil. I like the way that the TLB, paraphrases this, “What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God!”
Ponder the above verse. I have several thoughts meandering in my mind this morning. We have seen the video of Charlie Kirk being shot and murdered. (There is no need to keep replaying it). We have the remembrance of the terrorist attack of 9/11. I don’t try to understand the stupidity and the wantonness of all this. I don’t try to understand the reason for evil men to do what they do. And with that thought, I get tired of hearing and reading, “Where was God when Charlie Kirk was shot?” He was right there in the moment, gathering Charlie Kirk home to Him. Do I understand it? No. Do I question the wisdom and working of God? No.
I will admit that this senseless murder has bothered me. But I understand that God is working His will through it all. My wife said to me, Charlie Kirk is getting plenty of publicity on everyone’s facebook. No one will be immune to his testimony–it sort of reminds me of Stephen. Perhaps what took place in the House bothered me as much. When the Speaker asked for a moment of prayer, there were shouts of “no!” from the liberal left. My, my…Lord have mercy. And you know what, He is showing mercy.
The words of Paul to Timothy come to mind, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13, KJV) The ESV translates it this way, “While evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse…” Friends, listen, we live in perilous times. Times that are being made ready for the return of the Lord and for the man of lawlessness to appear. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, who the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NKJV) Paul then tells of the works of evil that will be there, then he adds, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2:15, NKJV)
My granddaughter posted something, and I won’t quote it verbatim, but give the jest. Don’t worry about today, don’t worry about your children and this world they have to walk through and live in. The reason why is that if they have accepted Christ, they are ready to meet Him. They need to be discipled in God’s Word, but God has placed them in this world, at his time in history, to fulfill their purpose in the here and now. God isn’t worried, He isn’t scratching His head wondering what He should do now. It is not an accident that they are living now. They need to walk in faith, trusting in God. It finishes with the thought–are you up to the challenge?
I will mention that the Echoes will be sporadic for the next few weeks as my wife and I will be traveling. I will try to send something, but it might not be every day. Pray for traveling mercies for us.