Injustices
The expression, “there is nothing new under the sun”, has been around for a long time. Every time I think or say, “I’ve seen it all now”, I live to find that is simply not true. As Yogi Berra said many times, “It’s déjà vu all over again”, and he is right. Who would question that great sage of baseball?
Over the past few days we have seen an out of control rebellion in the streets of most American cities because a young black man was choked to death by a white policeman in Minneapolis. And it was filmed for all to witness. Horrific by any measure. A sixty-year old wife and mother of three was at the same time murdered while sitting in her car in her driveway in North Dallas. The assailant has been arrested. He is sixteen with a criminal record. Both are inexcusable. One has ended in widespread chaos, while the other has gone mostly unnoticed.
America is a nation founded on law. Both will be tried and a jury of their peers will judge them for their crime. That is the way it is supposed to work in our nation. Not in the streets! Have we seen these two crimes committed before? Yes, too many times. You would think we would learn but we don’t it appears. One of my friends texted me and asked the question, ‘what is going on with our world?’ My answer was simply—S I N!
Sin entered the world
Sadly, these events began early in Genesis with the first two brothers. Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. The two murders here in America were for different reasons, but it’s still the sin nature in mankind. Jesus was very specific; if you have hate in your heart for another, you’ve actually committed murder.
This morning, my Bible reading was from Genesis 34. I invite you to read the whole chapter. Jacob’s daughter, Diana, was raped by a young man named Shechem. His father Hamor negotiated with Jacob and his 12 sons to be able to intermarry and for Shechem to be able to marry Diana. The only stipulation was that every male in the city would have to be circumcised. On the third day, when the men’s pain was the worst, Levi and Simeon went throughout the city and killed every man, woman and child. The ten other brothers joined them and ravaged the city taking all of these peoples’ assets, their cattle, everything. When Jacob heard about it, he was appalled and fearful that God would remove the blessing from him.
The answer the brothers gave to justify all the killing, looting and theft was similar to today’s—But they said, “should he treat our sister like a prostitute?” (Vs. 31). So, as we observe this event and last week’s, we see people justifying their evil reactions. It wasn’t right then, and neither is it today. But God knows the heart of man and it is evil. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes says it clearly. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after” (vss. 1. 9-11).
We have been set free
It is the grace of God that allows the free will of man. The greater the trespass, the greater the grace to atone for it. One man brought sin into the world, and One Man set us free, to those who believe the gospel. “For by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience, the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5. 19-21).
God looked down on the earth in the day of Noah and he found evil everywhere. He must be looking down upon America and seeing the same thing. But there was one man, Noah, who had integrity and walked with God. By his faith, the world was saved. Will you and I be the Noah for our age, our family, church, city, county, state, and nation?
Pray that everyone in these actions and reactions will be encountered by the Holy Spirit to embrace Jesus Christ as the only solution to their life issues here on earth and for their eternal destiny. To God be the glory!
