First of all, thank you for the fun last week!  Christians should be some of the most fun people around, and apparently, we at Greater Life Church have this down. 

Unfortunately, while we were having fun, the folks at FBC Southerland Springs, Texas were having a horrific day.  We are still getting reports of deaths from the shooting, and of course, everyone has different ideas as to why it happened.

 

A lot of people (Christians mostly) are shocked that something this dreadful happened at a church service.  It is as if nothing bad is supposed to happen there.  We would like to think that even as we admit we have no guarantee of the next heartbeat.  We tend to forget that suffering is part of our lot in life.  It is going to happen.  In fact, John 16 says: 

 1  “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3  And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

 

It would seem that these days are here, or at least not very far off.  However, look at what Jesus told them:

 

4  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.


We know things are going to happen because Jesus told us they would.  We need to be alert and unafraid of the future.  We can do this, as long as we keep our eyes focused on Him.  Knowing that no matter what happens to us or those around us He is with us and will never leave us.