Sermon Central
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Where Was God? [sandy Hook School Shooting]
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 15, 2012 (message contributor)
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Where Was God?
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/wherewasgod.html
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Where was God on Friday, when innocent little children were slaughtered like animals? Where was God when evil was seemingly allowed to run free on a wild rampage? I'll tell you where He was. He was present. No, He was VERY present. He was in the classroom. Yes, I know, we kicked Him out of the school system and we forbade the posting of the Ten Commandments, [the Supreme Courts wording: “If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the School children to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey the Commandments.” Let me translate. You cannot display the commandment ‘thou shalt not kill’ because somebody might obey it!] I understand the argument that we booted God out, but we actually don't have the authority to tell the omnipresent One where He can and can't be!
He was there! And He gathered those kids up in His sheltering arms, like a hen gathers chicks under her wing. I know this because Jesus said to bring the little children unto Him, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He who wept at the grave of Lazarus has a heart for all His children, and none more than little children. If they are not yet to the point of being saved, they are safe!
The Bible says there's one thing that gets God's fullest attention more than anything else, and that is innocent blood which cries out to Him. Where is God in such tragedy? Very present! He is all over that kind of situation, giving a dying grace which you and I have not experienced only because we've not yet needed it. "Shall not the Judge of the earth do right?" God is love, and in His character we know He is there where He is needed most.
And these kids which looked forward to their Christmas party next week awoke together, not in a better place, but the BEST place, and what a class party it was and continues to be...and we, the saved, will one day join in the festivities which will last for all eternity!
Some events in human history impact us so deeply that we will forever have engraved in our minds where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news. [Space Shuttle Challenger, John F. Kennedy assassination, 9/11] Where were you? Where was God?
1. The same place He was when Adam rebelled in Eden – He was present, and waiting to cover his sin. (Gen 3)
Where was God when man first raised his ugly head of defiance and rebellion? Was He really present? Couldn’t He have stopped it before it began? Oh, it is not a matter of whether or not He could have. It is a matter of His design for humanity and His plan of redemption. He designed us with a freedom of choice. In His sovereign foreknowledge He made provision before the world was ever created for man’s redemption; knowing full well that man would make disastrous choices from the beginning. When Adam and Eve finally “fessed-up”, He was there with a covering for their nakedness and shame; exacting the ultimate punishment on an innocent victim to cover man’s sin. But, He was there!
“Where was God?” …
2. The same place He was when Noah built an ark – very present, and protecting him from disaster. (Gen 6-9)
