As I listen to all the commentary around the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado, I must admit frustration.  It seems we always want to find a rational answer to irrational behavior.  Everyone wants to know why this happened and how might it have been avoided.  These are both fair and honest questions, though the answer may never be known and complete avoidance of such horrific acts as this one is unlikely.  But for some, this tragedy has provided another opportunity to push a political agenda, cast blame and to create further division among us as a nation.  I’ve watched this week as some in media have sought to blame the National Rifle Association, acting as if they pulled the trigger.  Only one person pulled the trigger, James Holmes.  I’ve heard others speak of the negative influence of violent movies.  I’ve listened as our presidential candidates commented on this tragedy.  I heard President Obama speak of this as a senseless act; and it was.  If only he thought that taking the life of an innocent unborn child was just as senseless, he might have greater credibility on these issues.  Words always ring hollow when actions speak the contrary.  So as our media seek answers as to why this shooting happened, and our political leaders ponder remedies to deal with potential fallout, one remedy, in fact the only hope, remains largely ignored.  That hope is a return to God!  Of all the problems our nation faces, our biggest problems remain spiritual.      

            It’s time we face the fact that our major problem is not the Second Amendment; it is not the desensitization of our society because of the violence in movies or music.  Our biggest problem is we have alienated God.  As a nation, we have failed to emphasize His will concerning societal issues.  We have failed to believe God when He said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  We think we know better, and as a result, we find ourselves reaping the consequences of our arrogance.  That’s why I find the comments of some liberals to be so hypocritical.  They ask why these things happen, yet fail to recognize that these are consequences of the policies they’ve largely supported.  Policies that fail to acknowledge the role of our Creator.  It is not to say that if this were not the case that evil wouldn’t exist.  Evil has always existed, and though not responsible for it, God has always been sovereign over it.  But more and more we fail to emphasize the value of God’s opinion in the public discourse.  Do you think He takes the apostasy of our nation lightly?  Do you think He pours out His mercy and grace to the exclusion of His justice and wrath?  What do you think it meant when Paul wrote, “God gave them up”? (Romans 1:24) What it meant was that God gave them up to their sin and the resultant consequences.

             But fortunately, we have a faithful God.  That’s why we continue to preach and to pray because in light of all that surrounds us, there is always hope to be found in Him.  Individually and as a nation, our greatest hope for change is to seek God’s face.  Instead of denying Him, obey Him.  Instead of running from Him, run to Him.  A seeking heart will always find a welcoming God, “You will seek me and find me.  When you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)  I guess we will never rid society of all its ills.  That is until Christ returns.  But until then, by submitting to God’s will expressed in His Word, we are provided a necessary filter with which to see the world and the events around us, making us less susceptible to its evil influence.  I hope you believe that God’s Word along with prayer has that much power because it does.  I also hope you believe that God will bestow blessing and favor to those who seek His will for their lives.  He will do that for our nation as well.  All of God’s Words are true and just as He meant Romans 1:24, He also meant Malachi 3:7 when He said, “Return to me, and I will return to you”. The question is, will we?

            I’m rather tired of our political leaders trying to divide our nation between the “have’s” and the “have not’s”.  I don’t care who the politician is or in which political party they reside, when creating division between people becomes your strategy in order to maintain power, it’s despicable.  Over time it has become quite clear that one political party has chosen that course.  And sadly, President Obama has unashamedly chosen to lead the way.  There have always been circumstances in which those with means have taken advantage of those without, but there have also always been times when those without means have sought to inappropriately take advantage as well.  Greed isn’t reserved only for the wealthy.  We are brought down as a nation when our power hungry political leaders successfully pit certain groups of Americans against another.  I reject that and I believe many do.  I reject that every financial good fortune was ill gotten and every financial misfortune was someone else’s fault just as I reject that some people’s financial misfortune was of their own making.  I also believe many people, irregardless of their means, stand willing to reach out and help others in need.  This is not reserved only for those with greater means helping those with less.  It works both ways.  If you look for it, you can see it every day.  Rich, poor or whatever, I do believe in the good of people and I think we should.  We’re better when we do.  But a most important question is of what that good is motivated by. 

            Unfortunately, you find in some preaching that wealth makes it impossible to spend eternity in heaven, that heaven is only reserved for the poor.  On the other end, you find preaching that says wealth implies God’s favor, while poverty implies His disfavor.  The Bible teaches neither as these are both manufactured theologies.  Financial means are not the measure of how one will spend eternity.  God owns everything and needs nothing.  Though seemingly opposite, wealth and poverty present similar challenges.  In both cases, it has the potential to shift our focus away from God.  James addressed this very issue in his letter to those undergoing suffering and persecution.  He wrote to the poor, “Let the lowly boast in his exaltation” (James 1:9).  James was telling them to focus on their position before Christ and to boast in their heavenly reward to come.  To the wealthy he said be “rich in his humiliation” (James 1:10).  In other words, wealth passes away and is incapable of bringing the inner peace that only God can.  Sure James addressed the oppression of the poor.  It was wrong then and when it occurs today, it remains wrong, but are we better through division?  I don’t believe we are.    

            But there’s a bigger issue that the rich and poor need to be concerned with, a “have” or “have not” that really matters, and it has nothing to do with material wealth.  It’s the issue of whether or not you have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  That’s what truly matters.  Are you rich in His grace?  We should all want to be rich in this way.  All this other stuff is secondary.  Trust the sovereign hand of God to provide for your needs.  Don’t let material wealth allow you to take your eye off of the God who gave it to you, and don’t let your lack of it keep you from trusting His provision.  Remember, rich or poor, “have” or “have not”, His provision you can always trust.