What Would You Ask God at a Time Like This?

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(Sermon by Don Brock:  Delivered 12/16/12 in response to Newtown, CTelementary school killings.)
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. (Romans12:15)
God, we are weeping for the little children.We are weeping for their parents, their brothers and sisters, theirgrandparents. We are weeping for the community. Many in Newtown, CT have takendown their Christmas decorations because it is now a time for mourning. Ithought we would ask God some questions this morning and hear what He has tosay.
Don: God, there are a lot ofquestions… we are not even sure what to ask. The children who died, are theywith you in heaven?
God: The temptation is to basethings on emotions or sentimentality. You can always trust my words and my son’s words. His words are my words.
Every person is marked by that first sin inmy garden. (Psalm 51:5) Although youlive with the consequences of that first sin, I do no hold you responsible for Adam’ssin. I judge people on the basis of their sins. Each person will stand beforemy son and give an account of his or her life. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
What I told Moses reveals part ofmy nature to you. I passed judgment on my people when they rebelled against meafter I brought them out of slavery in Egypt. I told Moses that they would notenter the new land as a consequence of their sin. But then I told him, I will give the land to your little ones—your innocentchildren. You were afraid they would be captured, but they will be the ones whooccupy it. (Deuteronomy 1:39)  I specifically exempted from the judgment those who “have no knowledge ofgood or evil” because of their age. These “little ones” would inherit thePromised Land, and would not be judged on the basis of their fathers’ sins. (TheSalvation of the ‘Little Ones’: Do Infants who Die Go to Heaven? Article by Mohler& Akin, 2009)Andremember what my son said, when some parents brought their children to him sohe could touch and bless them, his disciples scolded the parents for botheringhim. When my son saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. Hesaid to them, “Let the children come tome. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like thesechildren.” (Mark 10:13–14)
It was not my will for a person with suchevil intent to destroy so many lives. Yet, know that I accepted these childrenwho died in this horrible event into my kingdom by my grace and my son’s deathon the cross.  
Many try to impose on me their unbiblicaltheology, their human logic or their sentimentalism.
Tell my people in my church who have lost achild or lost children before they were even born, their child is with me in myHeaven right now, in this very moment. Theywere not made into angels as some have said. They have a much higher place.They live here as my children, my heirs. (Romans8:15-17)  My home is filled with manywho never grew to maturity on earth. Tell those parents that their child willgreet them one day completed in my son Jesus. Warn them however to resolve bygrace to meet them there. What will be very sad is that many children who diedyoung and innocent and are with me, some of their parents will never see themagain because they have rejected my son. Pray for those parents in Newtown, CTthat they will open their hearts to my love and grace.
Don: So where have we gone wrongLord? How has it gotten so bad in our country?
God: Don, it’s nothing new. Rememberwhen my son was born? King Herod was filled with fear and evil that he tried tokill my son. He sent his assassins to Bethlehem to kill all the male childrenunder the age of 2. “A cry was heard inRamah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing tobe comforted, for they are dead.” (Matthew 2:18)  Herod is still paying for his sins… he willnever finish paying for them.
Don: But there are so many goodpeople in this country. Do we deserve this?
God: You have forgotten that I willnot be mocked. What you plant is what you will harvest. (Galatians 6:7)  Just look atmy basic commands and see how far your country has moved away from me. See howfar even those who claim to know me are really far from me.  See how you are harvesting what you haveplanted. (Exodus 20:1-17)
1.    “You must not have anyother god but me.”Yet you have many other gods… anything that you value or spend more time withthan me… that is your god. Where you spend your resources reveals your gods.2.    “You must not make foryourself an idol of any kind.”  Yet you worship manyidols. You worship athletic superstars. You worship Hollywood celebrities. Youworship sports, entertainment; you worship your money and the things it buys.Shall I continue?3.    “You must not misuse thename of the Lord your God.” Yet you misuse my name allthe time. You sit by and let others use my name or my son’s name as a curseword. You have become accustom to it. That which offends me no longer offendsyou. You have even made up your own slang words so as to not say the actual wordsbut it means the same. Remember I am looking at your heart. (Proverbs 21:2)  So how are you doing so far Don?4.    “Remember to observe theSabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinarywork, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.” You see, I made you. (Psalm 139) I know your limits and whatis best for you. I made you with a need for proper rest. If you think I amimpressed when you work 7 days a week… even if it is in the church, well, I amnot. I’m saddened that you think you know better than me. Even in church youhave taught this generation of children that church is what you do as long asit doesn’t interfere with other events. See how easy it is to make excusesabout my command of the Sabbath?5.    “Honor your father andmother.” Yetyou have a generation of parents who don’t want to parent their children. Youhave many parents who do not deserve to be honored. They want to be theirchild’s buddy. Parents are sacrificing their children on the alter oftelevision, the Internet, video games. Your children are already addicted toit. Younger and younger children are being absorbed by pornography. It destroysmy design of marriage. It destroys my design of sex. I see many parents to busyfor their children as they selfishly live their lives. They do not realize thatthe innocent minds and hearts of their children are being destroyed. Iestablished parents as the authority in the family. Children often get theirfirst impressions about me from their parents. 6.    “You must not murder.” Yes, it breaks myheart that a person filled with an evil heart would destroy so many innocent livesin Newtown, CT. I watched as the country mourned, devastated, sickened,disturbed at the deepest level. I was there. Yet you do not weep as I do forthe over 1 million children that were murdered before they drew their firstbreathe in your country this year alone. You call it “a woman’s right.” I callit murder. 7.    “You must not commit adultery.” Yet youno longer value marriage. You so quickly throw it away. You have perverted mydesign for marriage. My son told you that even when you lust in your heart andfantasize about being with someone else, that is adultery! (Matthew 5:28)  When you lovesomeone more than me, you are committing spiritual adultery. Remember Iinvented marriage.  I made it sacred. Icreated marriage with Adam and Eve. I conducted the very first wedding ceremonybefore sin was in the picture. And I am going to conduct the very last weddingceremony when I unite my son with his bride. The marriage ceremony is like thebookends of the human story. 8.     “You must not steal.” Yet you steal in so many ways. Yousteal someone else’s work and claim it as your own. You steal when you are paidfor a job but do not finish the work. You steal when you do not pay someone forthe work they have done for you. You steal when you lie about your taxes. Yousteal from your work place. You steal someone else’s homework. You even dare tosteal from me when you do not tithe. (Malachi3:8)9.    “You must not testifyfalsely against your neighbor.” Yet you slander, you gossip, you pass along half-truths.You are even eager to tell about someone else’s sin.  And when you later discover that it was nottrue, you don’t correct your lie. You will lie when it is convenient for you. Youlie to make yourself appear to be good.10.  “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet yourneighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else thatbelongs to your neighbor.” Yet, you look at their house, their car, theirboat and you desire. You compare yourself with others. You fill your heart withjealousy and envy. You are never satisfied. You always want more.
You have made what I say is good and called it evil. Youhave made what I say is evil and called it good. (Isaiah 5:20)
Don: When a tragedy like thishappens it absorbs us for a period of time, but we soon return to our dailylives, consumed with ourselves. So, what do we do from here?
God: It breaks my heart when I seethe condition of your country. I raised up your country to spread my good newsthroughout the world. I raised up your country to have the privilege of beingpart of prophecy when I re-established Israel.
But now you think the answers are inpolitical system. How did that work for the Romans? You think the answer is inmore education and philosophical debates. Where did that get the Greeks? Youthink the answer is in more will power; the power of positive thinking… some callit New Age thinking. I call it the same old lie – man’s foolishness that hadit’s beginning in the Garden of Eden. Serpents still slither on the grounddon’t they? He is still paying for that one.
Your country has worked diligently to removeme from every place. And you wonder why things like this happen! You fear manand lawsuits when you need to fear me. (Deuteronomy13:4) You are concerned that you will offend someone, when you need to beconcerned with offending me.
Don: That’s true. Even in our ownschool district there is a lawsuit to throw out any prayers. There is a move toremove you completely! What breaks your heart God?
God: What breaks my heart thedeepest… it’s not what I see in Washington DC. It’s what I don’t hear from myown people. I don’t hear your broken heart praying for your nation. Rememberthat time when Israel was spiritually bankrupt? One of my deepest hurts wasthat among my own people… not a single one was praying. (Isaiah 59:16)  I willrespond to your prayers. But let me get right to the point…
I’m not impressed with you playing church. I’m not impressed with you being the next“cool” church.I’m not impressed with your sermons thattickle the ears and entertain.I’m not impressed with your slogans andcleverness.I’m not impressed with you as you coward infear of man.I’m not impressed with you and yourself-righteousness.I’m not impressed with you and your wisdom.I’m not impressed with you and your agenda.I’m not impressed with you and your plans.I’m not impressed with you and your talents.Basically, I’m not impressed with you!
However, when you get down on your knees andyou humble yourself before me with a broken and contrite heart, and you confessyour sins, and you seek me with all of your heart, when you give your fullattention to me and my commands… well, then...  (1 Peter 5:6; 2 Chronicles 7:14)
That is when you have my attention!That is when my ears are tuned in.That is when my Spirit shows up.That is when I change your life.That is when I lift you up out the filth ofthis world. That is when I wash your sins away.That is when I clothe you in my righteousness.That is when I call you my child.That is when I move mountains.That is when I heal the disease.That is when I cure the incurable.That is when I make all things new.That is when I make you holy, as I am holy.That is when I bring revival in you.That is when I bring revival in my church.That is when I bring a spiritual awakening inyour community.That is when I bring a spiritual awakening tothis land.
(2 Peter 3:3–18)  Most importantly, I want to remind you that inthe last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their owndesires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is comingagain? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the samesince the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that I made theheavens by the word of my command, and I brought the earth out from the waterand surrounded it with water. Then I used the water to destroy the ancientworld with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earthhave been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the Day of Judgment, whenungodly people will be destroyed.
Butyou must not forget this one thing, dear children: A day is like a thousandyears to me, and a thousand years is like a day. I am not really being slowabout my promise, as some people think. No, I am being patient for your sake. Ido not want anyone to be destroyed, but I want everyone to repent. But the dayI have already set will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens willpass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves willdisappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deservejudgment.
Sinceeverything around you is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godlylives you should live, looking forward to my set day and hurrying it along. Onthat day, I will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away inthe flames. But you should look forward to the new heavens and new earth I havepromised, a world filled with my righteousness. And so, my dear children, whileyou are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be foundliving peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in my sight. And remember, mypatience gives people time to be saved.
I amwarning you ahead of time, dear children. Be on guard so that you will not becarried away by the errors of wicked people and lose your own secure footing.Rather, you must grow in grace and knowledge of my son, your Lord and SaviorJesus Christ. Give me all glory, both now and forever!
(Revelation 22)  Listen to my son when he said, “Look, I am coming soon!Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.  Look, I am coming soon, bringing my rewardwith me to repay all people according to their deeds. ¹³ I amthe Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter throughthe gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. ¹⁵ Outsidethe city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, theidol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. I, Jesus, have sent my angelto give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David andthe heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.  TheSpirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Letanyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the waterof life. “Yes, I am coming soon!”


A Closing Prayer by Max Lucado
DearJesus,It'sa good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a goodeye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.Thesekillings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evildemonstrated.Thewhole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats ofchemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away fromannihilation?Yourworld seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right?You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followeda star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary andJoseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Darkwith Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.Herodwent on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. Youwere an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.Oh,Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? Weare weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, likethe shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.ThisChristmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.