THE EVIL THAT MEN DO

The world seems to be falling into chaos. Men's hearts appear to be growing colder and colder. Their acts are growing more vicious. It appears that the dogs of hell have been let loose. The murder rate in the city of Pittsburgh is near an all time high, and murder even in our own sleepy valley is growing at an alarming rate. Kids are killing other kids, husbands kill their wives, wives their husbands, children are killing their parents, kids are killing their grandparents. There seems to be no end. Does human life hold such little value in people's hearts that they can take a life with hardly a second thought? Has the world degenerated to such a place where killing has become commonplace? It would appear that it has.

But all hope is not lost. And we can't only confess the negative. I think of the movie, "Return of the King", the last in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The Steward of Gondor possessed a pallantier (a seeing stone) and was overcome by the images of the "certain" doom of middle earth and the destruction of the kingdom of men. His confession of inevitable destruction fed into the plan of the enemy of middle earth and he became depressed and resigned. Without wanting to he became an emotional ally of Sauron and his evil servants.

We as Christians must confess the saving power of Jesus in a seemingly hopeless and ever-darkening world. We know of His power to save. We know that He can shine His brilliant and glorious light into the darkest places of this earth. His light can shine in the darkest areas of men's souls. And though they are sinners, seemingly without hope, they can experience the true love and light that is salvation in Christ.

Wouldn't it be wonderful?