It was meant to be a celebration of the human spirit-a testament to strength of will and to endurance. Yet this year the Boston Marathon made headlines for a different reason. A senseless act of violence that has claimed three lives and left many more injured.
As with every tragedy, our society is left searching for answers. The question, "why," is often asked, but with no hope of finding a satisfactory answer. Even if the individuals responsible are found and questioned, no answer they give will satisfy those hungry for an answer. There is no valid reason for such a blatant disregard for human life.
Even if the reasons behind the attacks were explained in a clear and cogent way, it wouldn't justify the action. I don't relish violence, but there are times when violence may be necessary. I believe in self-defense. I also believe that it is the moral obligation of the strong to protect the weak. I believe there are solid, moral grounds for nations to go to war. But what happened in Boston wasn't an act of war. It wasn't self-defense. It was an act of cowardice.
The Bible says there is an evil spirit at work in the children of disobedience (see Eph. 2). Children of disobedience refers to those who are rebellious to the will of God. I don't mean to imply that the bombers were demon possessed. I mean that there is a supernatural, evil force that blinds humanity to its own cruelty and savagery.
Have you ever wondered why we hate those who are different from us? If hate is too strong of a word for you, why do we mistrust those who are different than us? Why do we want them to be like us before we accept them? Have you ever wondered why we hurt the ones we love?
The biblical answer is that human beings, although created in God' image, rebelled against God. Now the image of God, in us, is distorted by our sinful natures. We prefer sin to the Creator of the universe. Sin impacts each individual differently, but all of us sin. Some become vain self-worshipers. Others become bombers.
We all have sinful hearts. It might be better to say, we all have dark places deep down in the core of our being. Who we are is tainted by sin. Sin is disobedience to God. That disobedience comes in a myriad of forms, but comes from the same root. It may display itself in the severest forms of cruelty and violence or it may display itself in a holier-than-thou self-righteousness.
Jesus said it best, "You must be born again." We need a change of heart that can only be brought about by the Spirit of God. We need change deep down inside. The only way to have that change of heart is to turn from sin to the living God through Jesus Christ. We are all sinners. We all need Christ to change us.
The devastation in Boston reminds us that all is not right in this world. There is a darkness that pervades this world seeking to bend the world to its will. But a Light has shone in the darkness, and his name is Jesus Christ. Not only does he help us make sense of this crazy world, he enables us to overcome it. Please pray for the families affected by this tragedy.
