Once again the news is filled with unbelievable details of a terrorist attack in New York City. A lone terrorist killed 8 people and injured many more when he drove a rented truck down a bike path, only stopping when he collided with a bus carrying handicapped children. Leaving his disabled vehicle, he fled on foot. Carrying what appeared to be handguns, he was shot by a Policeman
Who is this killer and why did he do it? Details are still coming, but he claims to be a follower of ISIS. Why did he throw away his future by attacking the US? What caused him to murder those innocent people? Had he suffered some grave injustice? It must have been bad to push him to such extreme behavior?
Actually, our country treated him with great compassion. He was granted a Diversity Visa because we haven’t issued many Visas to people from his country. We wanted to be “fair.” Getting one of those Visas is like winning the lottery. It was a great blessing for him and his family and not many are given out. He immigrated to the US, is married, has three children and worked as an Uber driver.
It seems this man was “lost” in many ways. Even with great opportunity, he was a bitter man. He was described as aggressive and argumentative. He verbally abused many people he came in contact with. After his business failed and he was reduced to driving a taxi, he became radicalized online. Consumed by hatred, he planned and practiced his attack for more than a year. Described by some as “religious,” his was a religion of hate. After the attack, he said he was pleased with what he had done.
It is hard to understand how a man could turn against the country and people who offered him such a wonderful opportunity. What makes a man drive into a crowd of innocent people, who he doesn’t even know? How could a man be convinced to throw away his own life and the future of his family in the name of a “religion” that hates?
The answer and the solution come in one verse, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV). Satan will steal your joy, kill your body and destroy your life with hatred and bitterness. If you choose life, the Good News is, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). Abundant life now and eternal life when this life is over, is better than anything the world has to offer.
Wayne Lance (2017)