Horror and Tragedy

Yesterday, April 15, 2013, was Patriot's Day in Boston, Massachusetts.  Yesterday horror and tragedy unfolded as I watched the replay of two explosions going off around the finish line of the 26 mile Boston Marathon.  People were killed; many, many more were injured.  Many had body parts severed.  Why is the United States so hated that people, especially of other nationalities, will seek to kill or harm us?

The United States is the first one to respond to any country for any tragedy - and yet in return, we are beaten, bruised and despised.  Our people are tortured, beaten, and killed.  And for what.  It makes no sense to me.

Other than the fact that God has turned His back on the United States because of what it has become.  We were founded on the Bible and the principles of God.  The men and women who came over on the Mayflower to start a new life, were actually running for their lives due to prosecution in England over their belief in God.  They dedicated this magnificent county to God and prayed He would always protect her.  And protect her God did over the years. 

But also over the years the people in this magnificent country have turned away from what is good and have turned to evil.  They covet each other's property.  They lie, they steal.  They stretch the truth to make themselves look good.  They worship money and other things, putting idols before God.  They have turned to homosexuality, which is vile in God's eyes.  They turn to other sexual sins including pornography.  They have done far worse than any of the Israelites did in the eyes of God.  And He has turned away for He can not look upon sin.

That isn't to say that for us that do pray for this country, for each other, and for ourselves, that He doesn't hear us.  He does hear us, when there is no sin in our lives.  He does act on our behalf, but sometimes He says 'wait'.  And sometimes He says 'no'.  But sometimes He does say 'yes'.  It isn't fate; sometimes He wants us to depend upon Him to provide.  Not just what we need physically, but what we need spiritually.

The thought has occurred to me of how many of the people injured - or killed - were ready to die?  Did they know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?  Or was He just the guy who hung on a cross?   Those who had limbs severed - where will they draw their strength to survive?  Will they give up in depression over their personal loss?  Or will they look at a person who has no arms and no legs and be grateful they still have what they have - LIFE and Limbs - and see how they can touch other lives.

Will some become motivational speakers who choose to speak positively about what happened to them and how it turned their life around?  Or will they become addicted to pain killers, depression meds, or other things, trying to forget the horror of the day?

I can not answer any of the questions.  My heart and my prayers go out to each and every one affected by the explosions.  I pray for healing, not only physically, but spiritually.  I pray that eyes will be opened; God has saved them for a reason.  It only takes one person to make a difference for good.

May God forgive the United States for turning their back on Him; may we fall to our knees and ask for forgiveness.  Not only for ourselves, but for those who choose the wrong path.  For those who hurt us.

II Chronicles 7:14  " if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Pray for the families of those injured and killed, as well as those who were injured in this terrible tragedy.

Blessings!