What Would Jesus Say About 1-20-2005?
Romans 13:1-4
On Wednesday Morning 1-19-2005 Eureka and Greenwood County suffered a tragedy. A tragedy that maybe we don’t understand, or can’t understand. Matt Samuels, the Sheriff of Greenwood County was murdered. Like everyone else in Eureka, when I heard the news I went through a variety of emotions. Some of them weren’t the type of reaction that Christians are required to exhibit. This is one of those times in our lives when it’s just plain hard to exhibit the emotions and reactions that we as Christians are commanded to show. Some of the things that we’re working through are feelings of: disbelief, un-acceptance, anger, fear, not understanding, doubt, revenge, and probably some that I haven’t listed.
My first reaction was that of an ex-law enforcement officer. And I’ve had to work my way through some emotions and feelings that I thought were handled years ago. I’m sure that everyone here either has worked or is working through some tough emotions.
At times we hear stories about Law Enforcement officers who have a near brush with death but come through just fine, or Firemen, or Soldiers. But, sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. That’s when we have questions, like: “Why did God let this happen?”
Well, that’s what I’d like to try to address today.
To begin with let me make it perfectly clear, real public service professions, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, EMS Personnel, and Military personnel. God, I believe, calls these people, into their chosen professions just as surely as a Preacher is called to preach the gospel. All of these professions that I’ve just named have a common denominator, it’s putting the good of others first, placing themselves between us and the evil that’s out there in this world. I don’t believe that any profession is as active in this area on a day-to-day basis as Law Enforcement. Now, I’m not trying to tell you that all Law Enforcement Personnel are good Christian people, or even that they’re all good people, but they all are God’s Ministers. God is still the One who puts them there.
Turn with me to today’s text please.
Romans 13:1-4
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority, resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of thee authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
We’ve all listened to the news, or watched the news, talked to one another, read the papers and so forth. We just don’t understand how this could happen here in Greenwood County America. This is rural America after all. Well, it’s driven home to many of us that wherever you go, evil’s there, Satan’s active, and sometimes good people get hurt.
So let’s look at two questions today.
What would Jesus say about the Law Enforcement people involved?
What would Jesus say about the criminals involved?
I. What about the Law Enforcement people?
As to the Law Enforcement personnel, I think probably He’s say, “Well done,” Yes, Well done.”
The did their sworn duty, the bad guys were arrested.
But, why did Matt have to die?
Well, that’s harder to answer, but let me try. He died because evil is loose in this world, and has been since Adam & Eve fell. Those men in that house are evil men, in their own way just as evil as Osama Bin Laden, or Saddam Hussein, and lots of others who God’s allowed to live at the expense of good people.
OK. Why does God allow evil to exist? Why does He allow these evil men to live and destroy so many innocent lives? That’d be the next logical question.
Believe it or not, it’s because He loves us. He loves us so much that He allows us to have a choice. A choice to love Him or reject Him. If a person were forced to love, then that’s not true love. But, if we love someone because we choose to, then that’s real love. And that’s God greatest desire, for us to honestly love Him. In order for that to happen we must have the choice to love Him or not. The men in that house had the same choice in that area as each of us have.
So then we step back and say, “well, couldn’t He just cut back on some of this evil and not have quite so much?”
I don’t even pretend that I’ve got it all figured out, but I do know this much. It could be a lot worse! And because of men like the Sheriff, it’s not. The only reason there’s anything good in this world is because of God.
James 1:18 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
And according to Romans 13:4 Matt was God’s minister (servant). There are a lot of real hero’s in this world, and I’m not talking about some multi-millionaire sports figure. I’m talking about Cops, Firemen, Soldiers, and others who put their lives on the line every day for us. I’m talking about the passengers on flight 93 on 9-11-01, who gave their lives to save others. Those are the real heroes.
Take a look at Luke 13:1-5 now, if you would. I’m not going to read it, but I want for you to think about the principle we find in it.
Notice how Jesus took the judgment off of those who died and brings it right back to us. He makes it clear that their deaths had nothing to do with guilt or sin. He also makes it clear that their death should serve as a wake up call to us. We need to be doing some serious soul searching at times like this. We need to realize that we’re not immune to evil just because we don’t live in a city like Wichita or Kansas City. We’re all mortal and none of us have a guarantee of tomorrow. Let’s each take a spiritual inventory today, and ask God to show us exactly where we stand with Him.
Pray Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Job had a hedge of protection. A barrier that God had put around him, but then took it away, allowing Satan to have his way with Job, for a time. It’s the O. T. way of saying that even the most righteous and the best of this earth aren’t immune to evil. Just because we’re good, doesn’t mean that we’re protected from bad. Not in this life. The writer of Job understood this, but Job couldn’t. He was too caught up in his grief and loss.
We’ve all heard Christians say with the best of intentions, when something bad’s happened, that it was God’s will and we just need to have faith that something good will come out of it. I’ve even said it myself. We’re wrong in one thing. This can’t be pinned on God. We have to learn what Job learned, eventually.
None of us have an exclusive and closed relationship with God. Not one of us. There’s a third party in this world, who can, and will intrude an any moment.
Satan and all the evil he inspires intruded this Wednesday. He intruded through the hearts and minds of evil men.
So where was God when all this was happening? Listen to me now!
It wasn’t God in that house. I think I can tell you where God was and what He was doing Wednesday morning. He was behind those Sheriffs’ badges. He was in that EMS vehicle.
He was with the sheriff dispatcher. He was, and is, with the family and friends of Matt.
He’s with the citizens of Eureka and Greenwood County who are searching for peace and understanding. He’s near the hearts of all those who are hurting today as we face this tragedy, love our neighbor, and turn to Him in repentance. That’s where God’s at!
I think that 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 applies here.
14 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Folks, Greenwood County is a sick land. There’s evil here, and there’s only one answer to it. That’s for God’s church to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from any wicked way in us. When God’s people do that, He’ll heal their land. To re-use a phrase from last week, It’s your move!
God tells us to pray for our enemies. To do good to them. To love them. As Christians, are we doing that? It’s tough, but we have to do it.
II. What would Jesus say about the men who committed this crime?
What about the criminals? Well, according to our passage today, (if they don’t repent, and turn to God), they face God’s judgment.
It’s tough to accept but these men, like any other person, can find God’s forgiveness and pardon, and can make heaven. It’s not our business to hate them. It’s our business to pray for their souls.
There are legal consequences of their acts. Those will run their course, regardless of their spiritual condition in the future. God allows us to face the consequences of our actions. Good, or bad. But think about one thing as I close.
Luke 23:34
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Think about it.
Pray for Matt Samuel’s family and for the officers involved in the situation and investigation. I know first hand what some of them are going through right now.
But also pray for the families of the perpetrators of this crime. They’re hurting too.
I’m sure that Matt, his wife, and his kids had no idea that Wednesday was the day that he’s step out into eternity. He probably got up at the regular time, had a cup of coffee, maybe told his wife good-by and took the kids to school. Just a normal day.
The bad guys also didn’t know what the day held for them. None of us do. We need to live each second of our life like it’s our last, it just may be.
And let me close this with a question for each of us. I think back to some of the people who were on the planes on 9-11. People who were able to make phone contact with their families and loved ones. Without fail, they kept telling each other how much they loved one another. Think for just a minute what you’d say to the most important people in your life if you knew that you’d never get another chance. Then tell them today.
Altar call.
Father,
We don’t understand why some things happen, we just have to trust You and know that You’re in control. Lord, help us through this as a community. Help us to be the “Jesus” in the lives of this family during this time. I don’t know how Father, but somehow, as only You can, minister to them. Thank You Lord, for the men and women who stand between us and anarchy. Who put their lives on the line for us, regardless of their reasons. We know now, Father, that they’re Your Ministers, and You’ll take care of them.
We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
