On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in what is considered Texas’ deadliest school shooting in modern history, a least 19 children and 2 adults were killed in a small town of Uvalde, Texas.
It was both shocking and saddening to hear about this kind of news. There are no words to describe the tragedy that took place. It was senseless and there’s really no good reason for anyone to drive into an elementary school and kills innocent children and people.
With all the carnage and mayhem we see even in what we should consider a safe place, you may ask yourself, “Why does God allow mass shootings, especially in a school?”
It’s a hard question that many of us have asked. In most cases, people don’t have the right answer and even the wrong answer drives people away from God.
For us, Christians, how can we explain that Yahweh, a loving and merciful God, can allow such tragedy and great loss of innocent lives?
I wish I can give you a quick answer, but sometimes, it takes time for us truly understand God’s sovereign plan.
However, let me tell some biblical truths that could explain things.
First and foremost, human beings were given the freedom to choose. They can choose to do good or they can choose to do evil.
Here’s the problem that we read in Jeremiah 17:9:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked.
Sadly, the bad choices made by others also affect others.
Now, if God will take away our freedom to choose, what would happen? We become mere ROBOTS, which makes it impossible for us to develop a righteous, godly character.
Most of the time, God puts more importance on our character than our comfort.
Yes, the process is painful, hard, and difficult. However, God promised us in Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Even the bad situations, the bad events, and yes, even this heart-breaking gun violence, God can work things together ultimately for good, especially for those who love Him.
Thankfully, those 19 children will live once again, not in a world of violence, but in a world where God will teach them the true way of life.
That’s the ultimate hope that we all have.
One day, those children along with billions of people will be given the beautiful opportunity to experience what life is when all people follow God’s commandments.
We will see the fulfillment of Revelation 21:4:
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
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