I just finished reading the news article on the pastor of the church in Texas that was involved in the mass shooting which left 25 dead. It is a gut wrenching story that hit home for me. The pastor was away on that fateful day, attending a class. The article said that he usually carries a concealed weapon to church, and he wondered if it would’ve made a difference had he been there…

It’s a awful thing to consider. Should I be carrying a weapon to church just in case? What would I do if I were there? What is this world coming to??!

Perhaps, it would be wrong for us to think how we might be prepared for such an event. This is not something new. The church had been persecuted from the beginning. There is something called evil, and the devil is a murderer and he hates especially God’s children. He’s bent on doing harm. How do we prepare for it? With words like these…

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thess. 5:9-11

Did you hear that? He died for us, not so that we might live anyway we please! He died for us, so that we might live WITH HIM! That is why He saved us. He saved us so that He might be with us and we might be with Him.

I think that is the best way to prepare for the unthinkable. To be with Jesus all the time spiritually. So, when tragedy strikes, we may be with Him physically as well.

PH