White Horse E-News - 07-23-2012
Reflections on the Colorado Movie Massacre By Steve
Wohlberg
Today is Monday, July 23. The sun shines brightly in
beautiful Priest River, Idaho. A cool breeze is blowing, and the weather is
absolutely lovely. About an hour ago I took a short break from work at my office
for a peaceful walk in the pine-studded forest nearby, picking a few wild elder
berries growing along the path. They were delicious. Yesterday my son Seth
celebrated his eight-year-old birthday. About ten of his young friends came to
our home, and my Sunday afternoon was spent happily watching children frolic in
an inflatable pool, zip around in a small toy jeep, and bounce on our
trampoline. Yesterday was a picture-perfect day too. As birthday presents, Seth
received a new bike, his first real pocket knife, and a feathered-topped walking
stick for hikes in the woods. His happy, boyish face still thrills me, as do the
gleeful smiles and laughter of our precious 4-year-old daughter Abby, who
received a new stuffed rabbit so as not to feel left out.
On my walk, I not only thought about my wife Kristin and our children, but
also about little Veronica Moser, who just four days ago might have been a
friend of Seth. If so, she might even have attended his small birthday
gathering. The news reported: "She was a vibrant 6-year-old. She was excited,
she'd just learned how to swim. She was a great little girl, excited about life
-- she should be at 6 years old."
Today, to her family's unimaginable horror, little Veronica's lifeless body
lies motionless in a Colorado morgue. Three days ago -- along with 11 others who
just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time -- she was brutally
gunned down in cold blood in a Colorado movie theater rampage at the hands of
24-year-old Jason Holmes, who until Thursday night, most of his acquaintances
thought was just a normal guy. Entering the theater dressed in full attack gear
during the premier of the new film, "The Dark Night Rises," Holmes shot 71
people, killing 12, and wounding 59.
What can one say about such a nightmare? Do I see it as another "sign of the
times"? Tragically, yes, for Jesus Christ Himself predicted that immediately
preceding His return the days of Noah will be reenacted, when "the earth was
filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11; see Matthew 24:37-39). The Colorado movie
massacre is also an indication that, just like "Satan entered into Judas" (Luke
22:3) so long ago and inspired him to betray his Lord with a kiss, even so is
the same cruel devil still invading human hearts who give him a foothold.
When will such awful tragedies end? The truth is, not until "the devil and his
angels" (Matthew 25:41) are "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone"
(Revelation 20:9) and sin itself is completely destroyed. After the Day of
Judgment and the Lake of Fire (where every unrepentant soul will be held fully
accountable for every departure from love and virtue), the Bible's last book
predicts,
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for
the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said,
"Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write: for these words are
true and faithful" (Revelation 21:4,5).
Dear reader, this is our only hope. Only God Himself can eliminate sin, Satan,
mass murder and death -- permanently. In the wake of the recent Colorado
massacre, may we all fix our minds upon the last words of The Holy Bible:
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all. Amen (Revelation 22:20,21).
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