PROVERBS 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” NKJV
‭‭
OBSERVATION: What is the answer to the senseless mass shootings that are taking place in our nation and tragically in our public schools? The shock of the tragic Uvalde School shooting was quickly taken over by politicians and pundits without even leaving time for families and the community to grieve and heal.

Everyone feels a sense of deep sadness and helplessness in the wake of these shootings. We grieve for the adults and children who were killed and for their family members and friends. We pray for their healing and comfort and think of the trauma of the remaining children who will fear going to school and wonder if it will happen again.

As a nation, it is time to look inward and search our hearts.

I am not a gun owner or a gun lover. I believe in the Second Amendment but I choose to not bear arms. Yet, even though my position is conservative concerning gun ownership, I can’t help but wonder why an 18-year-old, who no doubt was spiritually and emotionally deficient, can go and buy an assault rifle with a magazine that can cause such damage.

While these are my personal feelings I confess that I am not the one with the expertise to recommend gun control standards. I am merely saying what so many conservatives are thinking but might be afraid to say. Yet, I am more than a political conservative – I am a Christ-follower who believes that the Bible is the final authoritative Word of God to man for all matters of faith and practice. It is to this that I make my appeal.

Our culture has dismissed the fear of the Lord. We no longer reverence God in our daily lives nor do we honor His Word. We have grown cold in our hearts and insensitive to evil and violence. We act shocked when an event like the Uvalde shooting takes place – yet, we go to the movies and continue to vote with our dollars for increased sexual promiscuity and senseless violence in the entertainment we choose. Video games are purchased for children that portray life-like killing with no consequences.

All of this is a window to the true condition of our national heart!

The increase of violence in our culture is just the manifestation of the real problem. When we reject God in our hearts and our culture we open the door to every form of evil. If we dismiss God, His righteousness, and His justice, then there is no consequence for our actions. We become gods to ourselves and we make our own standard of truth. We can live in any matter we want to because there is no God, no heaven, or no hell. The words of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” are coming true – yet the outcome is not what he had imagined!

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today
Ah

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

As wonderful as these lyrics sound, after almost 60 years they have still not come true. Solomon writes these sobering words.

• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

When we dismiss the fear of the Lord, when we pretend there is no heaven or hell, when we simply live for today – it does not bring out the best in us, it brings out the worst. True knowledge only begins with the fear (reverence, worship) of the Lord. We have not improved as a society over the past 60 years. Our culture has become more selfish, debased, and violent. We hope for peace and reap tyranny. We try to create heaven on earth – without the God who created everything.

America may need to come up with common-sense gun legislation. Yet, even more than that – America needs to repent.

I NEED TO REPENT!

I need to turn my heart fully to God in sincere repentance. I need to boldly begin to stand for and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There may be too many guns in America – but there are more hearts than guns that need to change. Our nation will not be healed by legislation. It will only be healed through repentance and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit bringing revival to our land.

Politicians will not bring forth the revival that we need. Only God’s people can bring this – through hearts that are broken for the lost and hurting and crying out to God through repentance and changed actions that show the fruit of true repentance!

• “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬

Lord, we need revival in our nation. Begin with me today – as I call upon Your Name, humble myself, and turn from anything and everything that would hinder the power of Your Holy Spirit working in and through my life.

In Jesus’ Name!