IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!

Here in Alabama, yesterday, Tuesday 24 May 2022, started out as an important day. It was the Primary Election Day. And I was a clerk at one of the local precincts. During the day, we discovered that another shooting had happened; this time at a school in Uvalde, Texas. And in The Blink Of An Eye, our hearts were broken for a community we had never heard of, until then. My mind and heart immediately started praying for the community. As of this writing the death toll stands at 19.

These were 19 people who were getting ready for the end of the school year. Most of which probably had wonderful plans for the summer break. It would be a time to catch their breath and enjoy life. Now–in The Blink Of An Eye–those wonderful plans quickly faded away. In The Blink Of An Eye, an entirely community has been forced to cope and find ways to deal with the chaos that must be flooding their minds and hearts. Vacations? Plans for playing with friends? Sleeping in? All these and much more are only a distant memory at best. All in The Blink Of An Eye.

And immediately the blame is being placed on an object. And no, this is not the time to talk about protecting the Second Amendment. In fact, it’s entirely inappropriate and callousness to the n^th degree. It’s time to change the conversations and the narrative. The true narrative is EVIL! Objects are not evil–but become evil in the hands of people who are under the influence of evil. Folks! Here’s the hard, cold, reality: These are EVIL times and all because so many have turned a blind eye to what is evil. Minds and hearts must be awakened to this horrible reality. And we must address it and make the narrative about evil. Evil is an attiude, a heart, and spiritual force. Because it is spiritual, laws and such will not change it–CANNOT change it. This is a war that is first fought on our knees and then in our hearts.

Remember what Paul wrote in Romans chapter 12, verse 21–“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Good, as defined by The Bible! The life of the young shooter will be analyzed and over-analyzed many times. But the core–the core of the problem will, more than likely, be unmentioned. The core is evil, and it’s time to speak into the true narrative. And what we speak next, will determine if evil wins or loses. I leave you with more words from Paul, found in Ephesians chapter 5, verses 11-16. And pay close and careful attention to the last line:

¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” ¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

(The New Living Translation)

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