A Tragic Week

This past week brought tragedy to Houston. HFD Arson Investigator Lemuel Bruce was killed in the line of duty as he confronted an arson suspect. Two HPD officers—Courtney Waller and Sgt. Harold Preston—were shot when they responded to a domestic disturbance; Sgt. Preston later died from his injuries. Three rappers were killed at DD Sky Club on Tuesday evening. I know that list doesn’t include other lives lost and other families shattered in other ways; those have just been the major headlines.

Behind the headlines, we, as the people of God, need to be thinking biblically about evil and tragedy.

“You do not know what a day may bring” (Prob 27:1)

No matter what plans we make, we have no way of knowing what will happen. We have no idea whether we’ll see the sun set this evening or see the sun rise tomorrow morning. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (Js 4:14). A friend of mine in college would often say, “You cannot get ready, you need to be ready.” Randy succinctly articulated biblical truth.

Evil comes to us all.

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them” (Eccl 9:11-12).

Evil comes to everyone. Tragedy befalls every family. Life on this earth is not an easy existence. God never promised a bed of roses as we walk through life. He promises to be with us, to bless us, and to be with us for all eternity.

This world is an evil place.

This world is evil because there is no such thing as a pure person. “There is no one righteous, not even one. . . . There is no one who does good, not even one. . . . There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:10, 12, 18). As much as you and I seek to do right, we must constantly remember that sin lurks in the recesses of the human heart.

This world needs Jesus.

Whenever I see tragedy, I’m reminded of the importance of sharing the gospel of Jesus with the lost. Sharing Jesus changes lives. Sharing Jesus prevents sin. Sharing Jesus prepares for eternity.

Let’s share Jesus and let our lights shine: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).