Bible Tuesday - Where was God?

It's a question that has been asked repeatedly since the school shooting in Newtown, CT. 

Where was God?

The answer is simple but it won't satisfy you.

Where was God?

God was in that classroom.  God was present as those bullets flew through the air.  He was with each and every one of those children as they were murdered. God was not absent.  He was not busy elsewhere.  He never is.

What we really mean when we ask 'Where was God?" is "Why didn't God stop this?"  And that's an answer I don't have.

But don't suppose that God abandons those who suffer.  God was there as the Jews were incinerated.  God was there as believers were thrown to the lions.  God was there as those with passion for His word were burned at the stake.  God was there on the beach at Normandy.  God was there in the twin towers on 9/11.  He was there in the library at Columbine.

And God was there.  On a cross at Cavalry. After being beaten beyond recognition.  And He was there on that cross to bear the punishment for Hitler, Stalin, school shooters, mass murderers, and me...and you.

And just a small rant here for my Christian brethren.  Please, please, please stop going on television and saying that God allows these atrocities because we 'kicked him out' of schools, government, etc.
We live in a world dying without Jesus. And we can't lead them to Christ because Christians are too busy being worried that they might not be able to "Pray at the Pole". How 'bout this. Get your own dang pole and pray whenever you want. In fact, you might want to do it a little more often than once a month. Stop whining to me that 'they kicked God out'. Just how small is this God you serve? Because I gotta tell you. My God is BIG. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob doesn't need defending by the likes of you. And if you think for one second that the school board or the state of Tennessee or the Federal government can kick my God out of anywhere, then you are sorely mistaken. Can the government take school sponsored prayer out of public schools? Sure. But they can't make a child stop praying. I send Jesus into the public school system every day. He lives in the heart of my children and he cannot be removed by any power. 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38

Think what a difference Christians could make in this world if we just took Jesus wherever we went. If we would just live out his love through forgiveness, charity and service. Let's quit whining that the 10 commandments were removed from an Alabama courthouse and start living those commandments in our own stinkin lives. 

It's time for followers of Christ to remind people that we are not alone. 

We live in a fallen world that is marred by sin and it's consequence.  We endure sickness, pain and all kinds of evil.  But we do not suffer in vain.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:1-5