I generally, don't pay attention to the news...
In fact, I kind of make it a point to stay away from all the drama in the world. Especially things like politics, for me it's just wasted energy. But I don't pay much attention to the news in general because...
I know what will be trending.
Death, wars, murders, violence....Pretty much rinse and repeat each and every day.
Today, though a news clip stopped me dead in my tracks:
O.k. violence in Edmonton Canada is nothing new. In fact, as this has been my home for the past decade and a half, I've seen some stuff...
I was actually around quite a few acts of violence, seeing a friend of mine shot years ago in a nightclub (thankfully he survived) to countless fights and random acts of violence.
In fact, around the world, this happens daily. So while a news clip about violence anywhere isn't going to stop the presses, the details of this one really hit me.
16 year old teenage girl.
Shot and killed.
And I'm not trying to make light of any other acts of violence where the victim is a male. But generally, and sadly, it's usually dudes shooting other dudes.
So at first the fact that the victim was a female is crushing but then you see their age. 16 years old.
What are we even doing here?
When I was that age, all I was trying to do was play video games and gather up the courage to ask my teenage crush out on a date....
The fact that kids are shooting each other these days just blows my mind. So when things like this trouble me, I always look for answers....In Scripture!
People will ask, why does this happen? Why is there so much violence in the world? If God exists, why is there so much death and destruction?
I used to ask those questions, daily! And then I saw that while violence has always been around, these days there is something much more sinister at play.
You can't deny that violence like this is...Pretty much new. While we have always had death and destruction, since when did we have teenage girls being shot and killed?
It's very easy to blame God....
But what does the bible say about this kind of situation?
It comes down to having a biblical world view, which I have, so I hurt and mourn with the victims of violence....And I know exactly why this is happening.
You see, this world is fallen. We see in the book of Job that the devil literally runs this planet and is the prince of this world.
This isn't God killing people. This isn't God creating violence, death, disease or misery. It's 1000000000% on Satan!
Which obviously needs to be broken down much more, but for the sake of brevity, let's looks at why these kind of acts are happening now...
That's a whole bunch of loaded verses but pay close attention to verse number 2....Lovers of their own selves. Covetous. Boasters. Proud. Blasphemers. Disobedient to parents.....
I mean, this sure does sound like people in today's day and age doesn't it? And yeah, a skeptic will say 'that's always been the case' but alas...I just never remember 16 year old girls being shot and killed when I was younger.
Maybe it's because we see everything right away in social media. Or maybe, just maybe....This world is rotten to the core and the devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he will devour.
I pray for peace to that little girl's family. And I pray that God comes again soon...This world isn't getting any better :(