About the time I was finishing my sermon yesterday in Sherman, Texas, farther south, deeper in the heart of Texas…
Through the history of western civilization, church buildings have been places where people whose lives were in danger could find safety. Sutherland Springs is another indication that the civilization we inherited cannot be taken for granted.
Two Bible passages come to mind. From Habakkuk, who foresaw chaos: “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (1:2-4).
“And the Lord answered me: …the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith” (2:2-4). An alternate translation is “the righteous shall live by his faithfulness.” The evils around us call for faith in God’s justice at the cross of Christ, and our faithfulness to His will whatever surrounds us.
And the second passage, from Romans: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (5:3-5). Deep in the heart of Texas, deep in our hearts, the love of God in us and through us to others.
Comments