If you haven’t heard yet, this past Thursday (Nov. 5, 2009) at Fort Hood in Texas, there was a shooting that left 13 dead and 38 wounded. If you would like more details, you should be able to find them on any major news websites.

Let’s take a moment and reflect on our response as Christians to something so horrific and tragic, whether in Texas, or any place in the world.

First, human life is important. Sadly, in a world where communication is so efficient, it has become more and more common to become numb to the atrocities around the world because of the frequency with which they are reported to us. In Genesis 1:27, the Bible says that God created us in His own image, therefore bestowing His beauty and likeness to us. This is what separates man from animal; this is why people who are not Christians can do good and morally right things due to their innate sense of morality (conscience). Therefore, a human life, no matter whose life it is, is something to be cherished as the created being with God’s likeness that it is.

Second, our lives are finite. We will never know how long our time on this earth will be, and should therefore live our lives to the fullest in Christ’s name. This does not mean we are to worry about our lives (Matt 6:27), for as Christians, our lives are not our own anymore. We have given our lives up to Christ and have chosen to make choices on His behalf instead of our own (Gal 2:20). Steward this life that God has gifted to you for His ultimate glory.

Third, holy anguish. Paul expressed his anguish for the spiritually blind Jews around him in his writings (Rom 9:1-3). When was the last time you felt actual anguish for someone you knew who didn’t know Jesus Christ?

Listen to this incredible message on “holy anguish” from Francis Chan out of Simi Valley, California. (Listen to the very end.)

Once you have listened to the podcast, let us hear from you. Also, please keep the people who were affected by this tragedy in your prayers. Ask that in their time of need, the Holy Spirit would direct their hearts to look to God for comfort.

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