I was just thinking about a horrible incident that recently took place on a subway train. A man took the life of a young woman, an innocent stranger, who had caused no reason for such an attack. So many ask, “Why? Why her? Why did God not intervene?” Certainly, the man was not carrying a personal grudge. The two never spoke to each other. No insults were hurled. But still, life was taken.
The Chaotic Culture
Despite efforts by some to better control crime, our culture here in the USA has shifted from peacefulness to chaos. Not a day goes by without seeing reports of terrible acts of violence on TV. Families are attacked, children are abducted, abused and murdered, and in the streets of major cities, looting, arson and destruction of buildings and vehicles happen almost every day. Once again, “Why?” Why do we now live in a chaotic culture?
The Bible Has an Answer
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boatful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (II Tim. 3:1-5 NIV1984).
“History repeats itself” is a familiar phrase. When people take their eyes off God and turn them on the world, chaos results. From the Book of Genesis, we read that the world had become so corrupt, chaos-filled and disobedient that God destroyed that generation with a flood. He said He would never again destroy in that manner. Yet today’s culture is worse than even that of Noah’s time. Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24:37-39).
The question lingers, “Why?” Because God hates sin and rebellion. “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain” (Gen. 6:5-6). Our culture is quickly becoming similar to that time. God has not changed — we are grieving His heart.
Following Biblical Example
We can cope with the chaos of our time by following the patterns of revived hearts from the past. There are no “magical” Scriptures, but some are masterful reminders of the need of a nation in chaos.
As he prepared to dedicate the new temple to God, King Solomon prayed earnestly to God. During part of his prayer, he mentioned the people of Israel and pleaded with God to hear their prayer and forgive them. God responded with that which to many is very familiar: “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14).
