Where Was God?

Even though I reside in Australia, the news of the shooting in Aurora, Colorado has recently been much on my mind.  I am heartbroken by that senseless violence and tragic loss of life.  When I viewed cnn.com today, I saw a post titled, "Where was God in Aurora?"  As we face the difficulties in life, people tend to either run to God or run from Him.  Instead of evil in the world being proof of God's non-existence or unworthiness to be worshiped, I believe the exact opposite.  Evil in the world proves God exists because it stands in stark contrast to His righteousness.  You cannot have darkness without light.  God's love and holiness shows how worthy He is of worship.  The question posed on CNN's website is most commonly asked after a great tragedy, not after perceived blessings.  It is safe to reason the motivation to even suggest God was "missing in action" when people most needed Him is one of doubt, not of faith.  It is folly for a man to rage against a God he doesn't even believe in.

To best answer this question, we must travel back in time to a scene which unfolded just outside Jerusalem.  Jesus, believed by many to be the Christ, the Anointed Messiah, had been condemned to death by crucifixion.  Delivered by the Jewish priests and religious leaders because of envy, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate.  Upon examination, no fault could be found in Jesus.  Because of the mob which demanded the death of Christ, Pilate conceded to His death.  He was beaten, scourged, mocked, and nailed to a wooden cross.  He was lifted into the air at 9am, and total darkness covered the land from noon to 3pm - an unprecedented natural event.  Mark 15:34 reads, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  Though Jesus was Immanuel - God with us - the sins of the world which were laid upon Him separated Him from fellowship with His Heavenly Father.  He felt alone and forsaken.  But had Christ been forsaken?  No!  Three days later Jesus was raised from death to life.

Does death and destruction give God delight?  Absolutely not.  The first part of Ezekiel 33:11 reads, "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!"  God tells us in scripture that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Instead of revealing God as a cruel sadist who rejoices in violence, the picture of God's only Son dying on the cross was a demonstration of love for all people.  Jesus lay down His life so we might obtain eternal life through repentance and faith in Him.  Romans 5:7-8 states, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Jesus did the heroic act of taking the killing blow for all people, even His enemies.  If we praise courageous people who throw themselves in front of loved ones to take a bullet, then we should praise Jesus for what He has done.  Love is willing to pay a high price.  It pleased God to bruise Christ because through Him all might be saved from an eternity in hell and He provided a glorious entrance into heaven.

God was in Aurora before the shooting and remains in Aurora even now, for He is acutely aware of all that takes place in the world.  Just because a devil shows up guns blazing to steal, kill, and destroy, it does not challenge God's existence or ability to save.  We need God both in times of peace and in tragedy.  God has given all people a choice to believe or to doubt, to honour Him or dishonour Him, to obey Him or rebel against Him.  These trying times of grief, sadness, anger, pain, and bitterness serve as a test:  will we denounce God once and for all or run to His arms of love for comfort and healing?  Bitterness and despair have never healed the grief of any man.  Trust in God will.

We'll never have all the answers people are looking for.  But I know that Jesus IS the answer.  He will never leave or forsake His people, and there is salvation and healing in Him.