In Boston, we see the duality of mankind. The depravity to bomb and kill and the dignity to help and rescue. Below is a list of articles that point to this reality.
Today is another sad day– another tragedy. It will likely not be the last, regrettably. On days like these, commentators will ask “where was God in this?” or “why would God let something like this happen?” There are no easy answers to those questions. And while we may not be offered answers, we are offered hope and a promise in the midst of the brokenness.
Look around. Our world is broken. I’m not talking about the “world” in terms of nature (although creation, too, bears the marks of sin’s blemish and decay). I’m talking about the “world” comprised of the people, structures, and systems that make up society– the moral patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that result in things like
unfair business practices, racism, extreme poverty, dishonest government, dirty politics, family breakdown, cheating, stealing, oppression of the weak, and so many other distressors and defilers.
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Yet, we are reminded on days like this, our hope is in a new kingdom.
A kingdom reigned by a returning King.
A kingdom with no more terrorist threats or bombings. No more thoughts of death to keep us up at night.
How could there be, since there won’t be any more “night” to experience– absolutely nothing to make us think back on a life that was so regularly troubled by fear, anger, bitterness, anxiety, and lingering doubts? They’re all gone. All the time.
Keep all of this in mind.
Read about it and meditate on it often.
Tonight I’m praying for my great city. I’m praying that the image of God within her will rise above the brokenness which marks her. But, cosmically speaking, there’s only one way that happens–and it’s not when we simply look within. The deep problem lives within too. The image of God within us must connect–or reconnect–with the likeness of God sent for us, Jesus himself.
Yes, tonight I’m praying
for my city. I’m praying for the victims. I’m praying for the first responders. I’m praying for families. But most of all, I’m praying for that grace which comes from God alone to overcome all that besets her.
Though the whole human race participates in this defiance, God is unshakably committed to extending his healing grace as far as this deadly curse is found. God, not bombs, has the last say over death. He comes to the world to put out the burning wick of the world’s destruction. He does so, not by acts of military might or zealous terror, but by swallowing the curse like a bitter pill. He enters this fractured world, places himself in our guilty place and endures the strength and horror of evil on a Roman cross
until it is fully exhausted through him. He bears the full blast of God’s wrath against all the powers of hell aligned against us.
Why? Because our Creator is for shalom, he is against anything that attempts to destroy it. His long journey of redemption points history towards new creation in his death and resurrection, a new world where incendiary devices and their deadly use are no more, a world where evil men doing evil deeds are expelled from the kingdom of God.
Yes, evil is real and this act reminds us, once again, that we need the hero who is able and willing. Thankfully, the second member of the Trinity, Jesus Christ the righteous, touched down on this cracked sphere and is ultimately, subversively undoing everything untrue. His coming proves we can trust the world will not always be this way. And though we may not fully understand why God allowed this senseless bombing, we do know, unquestionably, that he cares and his covenantal commitment will not be diminished by the flailing death rattle of evil in any form.
Former Patriots player Joe Andruzzi carries survivor away from Boston Marathon bombing
And as you would expect from a man whose three brothers were all first responders as New York City firefighters during the 9/11 tragedy, Andruzzi flew into action by helping those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. As you can see in the picture above, he was involved in carrying those who needed help away from the scene so that they could receive medical attention. You can see a brief video of Andruzzi coming to the woman’s aid here. She’s clearly injured and is struggling to right herself, those around here are calling for help, and Andruzzi rushes to the rescue.
