“What we are seeing unfold across our country is the tragic effect of the choices we have made as a nation.”
After 95-year-old Theresa DeLucia passed away, the family met to review her will. It was revealed that she required her home to be put up for sale, and all her assets be distributed equally among her children. However, this meant that Joseph, one of her adult children who lived in the home, had to move out. The news so enraged him that he left the meeting in search of a gun then returned and shot each family member in cold blood, killing his two sisters, brother and a niece. Afterwards, realizing what he had done, he then turned the gun on himself. Absolutely horrific! (Photo by waggtime from Pixabay.)
Such a tragedy like this is not isolated. We are seeing brutal murders and unthinkable abuse on a growing scale. In many urban and suburban cities rising crime is causing increased fear among citizens. The Bible speaks of times like this saying “…because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
Why is this happening? What we are seeing unfold across our country is the tragic effect of the choices we have made as a nation. Our culture is changing. And all this is communicating a spiritual message and warning. If we listen to this message, we will understand and begin to reverse this dangerous course.
What is the message? Return to God. Why? Because without Him we cannot have a civil and just society.
Have you heard of the Golden Rule? Jesus coined it, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matt. 7:12) This is a rule for all people to live by. It is also an umbrella statement that encompasses a whole set of behaviors in how we are to engage with one another. It includes teachings from the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and others from the Bible. They talk about things like children honoring their parents and parents disciplining and instructing their children. Not lying, stealing or harming one another. And additional commands dealing with divorce and adultery. All these and more have an ethical foundation to them. It is not treating one another based on our personal feelings or emotions, nor is it about just giving someone what they want; feeding their own passions. It is loving one another in a just, wise and good way.
Where does this idea of treating people like this come from? God.
I quoted the Golden Rule from Jesus, which is based on the Great Commandment. It has two parts that work together, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37-39)
The two commands work together. One cannot genuinely love God without loving others, and one cannot effectively love others without loving God.
The foundation for treating others in a way that is good and right comes from the character of God. That is who He is, so when someone loves Him with all their being, then they naturally display that in their treatment of others.
What does this mean? For a society to be civil and just, it requires the Lord God. Its laws, policies, leaders and overall values must reflect the character of God. Then when you have this permeating society, people will treat one another with honor and dignity. However, when we reject God and His ways, we will no longer love our neighbor. Instead, anarchy will persist as people will seek their own interests above others, and hearts will become hardened toward what is good and just.
How can this be reversed? We must return to God. Look around and see how we have wandered. Let us admit this, then humble ourselves and come back to our Creator.
To change a nation, it starts with one. Be the one.
A prayer for you – Lord God, search us as a country. Let us see how we left you. Humble us, open our eyes and bring us to see our need to return to you. Bring a great move of your Spirit upon our land, O Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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