Lost or Redeemed

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:11-12 (NASB)

When evil invades and takes lives God is still in control.  I know my pea-brained mind struggles knowing the seemingly senseless act stripped loved ones away from families.  Young lives taken so soon.  Parents left without that child.  I can’t wrap my brain around it.

But I do know that evil was behind this act.  I know that there are spiritual forces of wickedness waiting to steal joy.  Desperately wanting to claim something not his.  And evil is running rampant.   

It hangs like a heavy dark cloak plucking out ones to perform on his behalf.  And there are too many performers willing and ready to take the stage as the villain.

But maybe some of those performers enter the back door of the stage without knowing what they are in for.  Maybe ignorance allows for the puppeteer to pull strings and when the puppet is led down that spiraling staircase into dark depths death overcomes that poor ignorant puppet. 

But how can pity be had for such a heinous act.  Because ignorance is not bliss.  Hatred is not a well-spring of life.  Because Jesus died to redeem heinous acts.  

Because we are all guilty of some heinous act.  And if one, well covered on all media outlets, is guilty of some heinous act then redemption still exists for that one.  But if that one doesn’t know……

Lives lost….

For those remaining, hope remains.  Ignorance doesn’t have to continue.  Salvation doesn’t have to be kept a secret.  There is One that died so that all could be redeemed.  Any willing could be redeemed.  To recognize the price that was paid so that love overcame evil.  And it was finished.  The end was written.

But if you don’t read the book how will you know.  Be the book!