Most of us have been raised to do right, or at least to know what right is. With wrong actions eventually come consequences that we don’t want. Children know that, but will see how much they can get away with before the consequences kick in. If they get away with something they know is wrong, they have learned a bad lesson and that ain’t right.
That makes what is going on in this world all the more tragic. I know that’s not right but we seem powerless to stop it. Yes, I was shocked when I saw George Floyd die with a Policeman’s knee on his neck. I and most people who watched the video know that ain’t right.
I watched as protests grew across the country, calling for justice, as the list of demands grew along with their numbers. Almost immediately some protests turned into riots, which spawned widespread stealing, killing and destruction. As the human death toll rose, communities already devastated by the virus were being destroyed. While local authorities restrained the Police, attacks against them became more violent. Even now local officials are “protecting” rioters by refusing to prosecute and by gutting their Police forces, so the evil will continue and you know that ain’t right.
This isn’t the first time, it’s happened before. Local officials allowed an innocent man to be tried in the middle of the night, violating their own laws. They handed him over to their hated enemies, who savagely beat and tortured the man to death. As the man’s life came to a horrible end, those who should have loved him mocked and jeered. Did he curse them, or cry out for revenge? No he said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV). That innocent man was JESUS, who died to forgive the sins of the very people who unjustly beat and tortured Him to death. He even loved those who mocked and jeered. He was GOD, but He allowed them to take His life. You say that ain’t right, He is GOD!
You might say, what about Hell? The joke is on those who rejected JESUS and that is His revenge when they hear “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Mat 7:23 KJV). If you think Hell is a joke or GOD’s revenge, that ain’t right and the proof is found in GOD’s love. GOD “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (1 Peter 3:9 KJV). “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) and He wants everyone to believe on His Son and be saved.
So what is right? We the Church need to overcome this darkness with the power of GOD’s love! We can’t join in the hate and expect GOD to use us to stop it. Let’s humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways, pray and seek GOD’s face and He will forgive us and heal our land (2 Chron 7:14). You know that is right!
Wayne Lance (2020)