I was so shocked and saddened to hear of the recent tragedy of the brutal murder of Sir David Amess. A tirelessly hardworking MP holding a surgery to meet his constituents, ends in such tragedy. I know that our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
It can so be hard to know how to respond in these circumstances; yes there is the grief of his loss, yes we can draw strength from his kindness, passion and example, what we can’t answer though is why such tragedies happen in the first place. Inevitably when tragedies like this strike, especially senseless killings, we rightly ask question of God, ‘Lord, why do you let these things happen? Why is it that the innocent have to suffer. Where is your justice in all of this?’
I remember when the Paris attacks happened a few years ago, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said on Songs of Praise that the tragedy made him doubt the presence of God. This is not surprising. God is supposed to be a God of justice and of peace isn’t he? Well if that’s the case, why do such awful things happen?
These are not new issues, for a long as there has been faith in God, people have wrestled with it. And the Christian does not have an answer to the problem of suffering on this side of the veil; but we do have hope, hope in God. We have hope that our struggles and the tragedies that we go though will not be in vain. Justice will indeed one way be done to all. This is why we follow Jesus, for in his resurrection there is the proof that this life that we go through with all its pain and tragedy is not the end of our existence, good will triumph and justice will one day reign; God will one day make everything right.
There is a wonderful passage at the end of the Bible, it’s in Revelation 21. This passage speaks about what it will be like at the end of all things, it’s titled ‘A New Heaven and a New Earth’ It’s a passage I always go to when I need comfort:
‘Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “See, I make everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”’
Here we have the great promise of God, that one day everything will be made right. One day there will be no more loss, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more pain; and this is what the Christian looks forward to in expectant hope. Although we may suffer long in this life and never see an end in sight; there is indeed a heavenly home in eternity to look toward, where God’s justice will reign fully, and we will have the peace they we long for.
Every Blessing
Rev Adam.