Earlier today someone posted an article on Facebook about the attacks in Paris. It seems that at the time of the first attacks the people at the rock concert were singing a song called "Kiss the devil". The lyrics of the song ask "who will love the devil and who will sing his song?" Then they answer, "I'll love the devil and I'll sing his song." The article contained a picture of youth with two fingers in the air, making a sign intended to imitate the devil's horns. One comment under the article articulated my first thought, "I guess they met the devil quicker than they thought."
Another person who read the comments thought the article was very inappropriate. They felt as if the writer was placing the blame for the attacks on those singing the song, as if they asked for the attacks. When I read this I was heartbroken for the young people. Surely they did not know that such a thing was about to happen, even as they naively sang a song inviting the devil into their lives. I am not naive enough to think that the song they were singing had anything to do with the attacks, I just grieve that a group of young people went to meet their maker while singing such a song.
Even as I read the account I thought of Jesus words in Luke 13: 1-5:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Apparently the scenarios Jesus spoke of were well known to his followers. It is evident from the few verses we have that many wanted to place the blame for this tragedy on those who died. After all, weren't they suffering the judgment of God for their sins? Jesus answer should make us all stop short. "Except you repent you will all likewise perish."
All of us have committed sins according to Romans 3:23. Not one of us can claim to have never sinned. Without the mercy of God all of mankind is collectively doomed to perish. We all deserved death for the sins we committed and it is only because of God's grace that we do not receive it.
If there ever was a time that our world is in need of prayer it is now. We must pray for those in government and those trapped under the fist of the giant evil that is slowly overtaking our world. Only a genuine move of God's Spirit can change anything. Let us pray that we will not be caught up into the foolishness and wickedness of the hour. Let us pray for those who are hurting after loosing loved ones. Let us pray for those Christians who are being persecuted in lands that are hostile to the gospel. Let us pray that government leaders would have Godly wisdom to make decisions that are for the common good. Most of all, let us ask God to forgive us all so that we do not all likewise perish.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones
Another person who read the comments thought the article was very inappropriate. They felt as if the writer was placing the blame for the attacks on those singing the song, as if they asked for the attacks. When I read this I was heartbroken for the young people. Surely they did not know that such a thing was about to happen, even as they naively sang a song inviting the devil into their lives. I am not naive enough to think that the song they were singing had anything to do with the attacks, I just grieve that a group of young people went to meet their maker while singing such a song.
Even as I read the account I thought of Jesus words in Luke 13: 1-5:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Apparently the scenarios Jesus spoke of were well known to his followers. It is evident from the few verses we have that many wanted to place the blame for this tragedy on those who died. After all, weren't they suffering the judgment of God for their sins? Jesus answer should make us all stop short. "Except you repent you will all likewise perish."
All of us have committed sins according to Romans 3:23. Not one of us can claim to have never sinned. Without the mercy of God all of mankind is collectively doomed to perish. We all deserved death for the sins we committed and it is only because of God's grace that we do not receive it.
If there ever was a time that our world is in need of prayer it is now. We must pray for those in government and those trapped under the fist of the giant evil that is slowly overtaking our world. Only a genuine move of God's Spirit can change anything. Let us pray that we will not be caught up into the foolishness and wickedness of the hour. Let us pray for those who are hurting after loosing loved ones. Let us pray for those Christians who are being persecuted in lands that are hostile to the gospel. Let us pray that government leaders would have Godly wisdom to make decisions that are for the common good. Most of all, let us ask God to forgive us all so that we do not all likewise perish.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones