Once again there has been a terrible tragedy occur in our world. A lone gunmen holed up in a Las Vegas hotel and armed with 23 assault rifles inflicted chaos and destruction last Sunday night at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. 58 people were killed and over 500 injured in what has now become the worst shooting in US history. The police and other law enforcement agencies are still trying to piece together how this occurred and what can be done to prevent it in the future.
Andrea Castilla, Carrie Parsons, Austin Meyer, Brett Schwanbeck, Teresa Nicol Kimura, Brian Fraser, Denise Cohen, Austin Davis, Rachael Parker, Charleston Hartfield, Sonny Melton and Keri Lynn Galvan are just some of the 58 people killed in the attack in Las Vegas. I may have interacted with Keri Lyn as she was a server at a local restaurant here in Thousand Oaks!
None of these people from what I read about them seemed like they were bad people or living reckless lives. They were mothers, fathers, veterans, police officers and teachers. Nothing stood out about them as to why they were unable to escape the storm of bullets raining down on them and their fellow concert attendees.
So where was God many might chime in about this horrific loss of human life? Why didn’t God step in and save Austin Meyer or Sonny Melton? Where was His protection for Keri Lyn Galvan? This sentiment was brought up back in 2001 when the two planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York.
I am here to tell you God was at the concert in Las Vegas Sunday night and He was at the Trade Center in New York in 2001. There were 22,000 people attending the Route 91 Festival and over 50,000 people could easily occupy the Twin Towers in New York on any given day.
Nobody highlights that over 21,900 people survived the pandemonium at the Route 91 concert. God was busy saving their lives. He was present in insuring the 500 wounded did not succumb to their injuries. Stories are being written daily about the miracles that happened Sunday night and how strangers were risking life and limb to save others. These people were filled with the Spirit of Love and God protected them as they rushed many to safety and cover.
He was also busy back in 2001 protecting the over 47,000 who escaped 9/11 to be reunited with their families. You can do a simple search in Google to read about all of the heroes that contributed to life on that terrible day of death and destruction. In all of these tragedies more people survived than lost their life. More people gained a better appreciation of the breath of life than lost it. This is God working in our lives.
Unfortunately these tragedies will not be the last. It is the world we live in currently. A world where greed, selfishness, anger, envy and lust govern our world. Maria will not be the last storm to hit the United States, Stephen Paddock will not be the last the last gunmen to take numerous lives and there will be more earthquakes like the one in Mexico. Not a rosy picture I am painting but one the Good Book has stated will occur in the days of man.
But Jesus said in John 16:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
There will be tribulation but there is hope! If God is in you then you will be protected from the one who has sought to destroy from the beginning.
In 1 John 4:
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
A time is coming when the Stephen Paddocks and Irma’s and Maria’s will no longer be a part of present or future! This time of man and sin will be replaced by a world government of peace, love and joy. There will be no more tears for the Andrea’s and Brett’s of the world but eternal happiness and fellowship with all mankind.
If it is of any solace, the people mentioned before and the other 46 who died on Sunday rest for now but soon they will awaken to the New Kingdom where enjoying music will not be a fearful event but one of laughter and merriment.
That is the Whole Truth
And remember God always answers His kneemail.
