Let me state from the start – this post is not intended to be political. The violence I see around the world isn’t about just our culture in the United States. Tragedies are happening all over – wars and rumors of wars. Jesus never said the world would be a safe place. He warned us about the violence, the hatred, and the love of many growing cold.
When violent tragedies happen in this world, we scramble for human solutions. Our weapons of choice are myriad. In 2001 on September 11th, the weapons were planes crashing into buildings, killing thousands. Cars have been driven into crowded malls, bombs set off in Oklahoma City and at the Boston Marathon, not to mention other parts of the world. Guns have been turned on schools and churches. Knives killed Jewish people worshiping on Yom Kippur. No matter the weapon…the list is endless…because the weapon is not the cause of our violent society.
Violence stems from the hearts of people. Violence comes from the pit of hell itself and is fueled by demonic and satanic hatred. And sin. Please, do not forget that the heart is deceitful and sinful above all else. Can anyone really tell what is in the heart of another?
The tragedies will live on in the hearts of those who’ve lost loved ones. Like every tragedy, they are talked about, speculated as to why, to try to understand. And to mourn.
But if we fail to get to the heart of the matter, we fail to the utmost. 
The Bible talks a lot about the heart. In Noah’s day, “…the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.” So God destroyed the world He had made and saved those who trusted in Him. Most did not.
Jeremiah lived in a desperate time during Israel’s history and he said this, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?”
The prophet Hosea also agreed that “The heart is deceitful.” 
We forget that since the beginning when sin entered the human heart, it has deceived us all. And unless we seek the Lord with that heart and let Him redeem us, we will continue to live in that fallen human state.
We live in a violent and difficult world. Answers to our many disagreements and outright polarized opinions will not be found in our politics. Human beings will never solve human problems, because human problems are spiritual.
But most people do not recognize the spiritual side of our nature. Or if they do, they miss the reality that there are deceptive forces at work even there.
People laugh at the idea of satan or demons. We turn them into comical characters or scary fiends in houses of horror. We don’t take to heart what God says about this enemy of our souls or what will one day become of him and his fallen followers.
We also don’t seem to recognize the nature of our own human hearts. Besides being deceitful, the Bible also tells us that rebellion thrives within the human heart.
The people who wield guns, knives, bombs, cars, planes, rocks, and more are people who have succumbed to the deceit that began in the Garden when sin entered the human heart. It is people who commit crimes and kill their fellow human beings. It is people who plan to carry or drive the weapon of choice into the public square to steal, kill, and destroy. They are giving in to their fallen human nature and to the spiritual entities who seek to destroy us all. 
God sent Jesus to defeat this evil within us, this sin that we can’t erase. He came to heal the thoughts that lead people to pursue violent ends. He came to forgive, rescue, and save us from ourselves.
But we have a real enemy in the spirit realm that we cannot see who is behind the evil. He is the devil, the father of lies, the deceiver, the accuser of believers, the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the dragon, the serpent of old, the one whom Jesus will one day destroy with the breath of His mouth–forever and eternally.
Jesus came to rescue us from this enemy. He came to set us free from the bonds of sin and death and hell. He will make all that is evil go away some day, and He will save anyone who comes to Him and asks.
The world is not going to get better with time or human ingenuity. Evil people are not going to improve with better programs or more money or a new legal system or a change in which political party is in charge. 
The only way the world is going to be free of the evils we are facing right now, the evil that is not going to improve over time, is with a change of heart.
When we seek the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will find Him. He will never forsake those who truly seek Him. And when Jesus rules our hearts, we will love our neighbors as ourselves. Then, and only then, will we see change in this world for the better.
The world needs Jesus. God has placed within every human heart a longing for Himself. We were made for Him. And when we try to fill that space with the world’s teachings and ideologies, we will never be satisfied.
~Selah
The Conversation
Thank you for writing this email and sharing it with all of us. This message is so on “THE CAUSE” of all the problems that are occurring in this world. It is the “individual” that uses “the item” is the cause/problem. The item that is used can do nothing until the “human being” picks it up and uses in the wrong way. Satan is alive and well.
Thank you, Karen. Sadly, the human heart will never change without Jesus. May this event and those like it bring an awakening to our world.
I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Before Billy graham died he said, “If we do not have the second coming of our Lord soon, God is going to owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.”
This is the mess we get when we push God out of society. Our society was built on the Ten Commandments – where are they now? God created marriage between a man and a woman – He created Adam and Eve – NOT Adam and Steve. Children need the feeling personality of a mother and the logic of a father to thrive in a healthy home.
God gave us the rainbow as a sign of His promise to never again destroy the entire world with a flood. Now the rainbow flag flies as a fist in God’s face.
Read Romans 1 – God does not play “let’s make a deal.” He says “this is the deal!” We need to get back to basics – Honour God in all we do and put Him first. But I’ve read the last chapter and we win, and before we can rejoice in the victory, things are going to get a whole lot worse. The devil is working over-time as he sees his days are numbered. I pray God will keep His children strong and stand for His truth.
Blessings and hugs to you Jill
Ineke
Thank you, Ineke. May we pray fervently for an awakening to the truth. The enemy does not play nice. But we do not have to fight him with the weapons he uses. We pray. Our God is greater. Oh, may we see the evil one’s deceptions exposed and thwarted. May a great multitude of people come to Jesus because of this.
AMEN and AMEN to all that you have said Jill ! There is only one Name that will save mankind and that is JESUS. The Saviour of the world, I pray many more will call out to Him in these evil days, Come Lord Jesus!! God Bless Marie.
Amen, Marie! May God awaken our country to Himself. We cannot be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. May His Name be glorified, even in this.
This was amazing. I teach a ladies group on Wednesday nights and I have sent this to them..
Thank you
Thank you, Cheryl. I hope your ladies’ group is encouraged by this.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is refreshing in the midst of the desert. The news of this world causes such anxiety – but then people like you point us back to the God of the Universe who controls our times, kings, and kingdoms. Instead of anxiety, I pray to be bold in my love of His lambs – all people. I pray to be humble and to do what’s right in His eyes. It is my most fervent prayer that the world will truly know that we are Christians by our love – a love born because our Savior chose to obey His father, live a perfect life in our stead, die on a cross, and rise again that we might be found righteous before the throne of our Father. He will come again – and I pray to be diligent in sharing His love that many more might find Him, know peace, and join us at the feast. Thank you!
Thank you, Kate! May God give you strength and boldness and His love as you tell others about Jesus. I pray that many will hear and believe because of your life and testimony.
God bless~
~Jill
May I please repost this on FB and credit you? I’ve been mulling over how to respond to last week and you have so eloquently answered my concerns. Thank you.
Hi Cindy,
Absolutely! Feel free to link to this post or share it with permission wherever you feel led. May God bless you!
~Jill
BEAUTIFUL!!! I truly couldn’t have said it better myself!!! Thank you for this! I am praying that all the young people who have been inspired by Charlie will have the courage to push back against the godlessness that permeates the halls and classrooms of our American colleges and universities.
I agree with your prayers, Joy. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!