The Wagley GroupFebruary, 2023 – Faithful Living ~
These words in the title above were first published according to Wikipedia in 1784 by the Scottish writer Robert Burns in his poem “Man was Made to Mourn: A Dirge.”
Mr. Burns recites how his Mother grew up in the home of an elderly uncle. During her early childhood, she would help him pass the time by singing an old 17th century ballad entitled “The Life and Age of Man.” Hearing this mournful song would bring the blind old man to tears.
Robert writes to Frances Dunlop of the cruelty that mankind causes one another…and the effects of this cruelty that yet we suffer and endure. The stanzas in the poem speak of the sadness of life; in essence, that humans were created to be sad.
Many across the world witnessed the brutality of 5 men toward 1 man in the senseless beating of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop in Memphis, TN on January 7, 2023. Mr. Nichols died of these injuries three days later. The horrific video footage of these 5 police officers unleashing their furry in holding him down with repeated blows with their fists, kicking him and beating him with their batons—after he was subdued and handcuffed is difficult to watch.
Not unlike the blind old man referenced above, I along with myriads of others who are sighted couldn’t hold back the tears either.
For the life of me, I am trying to wrap my head around this brutal incident, and frankly, the rise of violence toward others including the escalating destruction of property in society today. Civil and human rights violations across our globe haven’t gone away either. If anything, acts of violence toward people and property continue to rise.
Where is God in all this? The Bible is specific. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8. He’s right here. He’s never left.
I believe God’s heart aches right along with ours when bad things happen. When people hurt and when people hurt people, He deeply grieves…down to His very core. Ever since Cain killed Abel, the generations have known and experienced man’s inhumanity toward man.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8 ESV
So, if God is Love, who or what stands in direct opposition? Satan disguises himself as an angel of light but he is full of darkness and hate. He tried to stage a coup to overthrow God Himself and was banished forever with a third of the angelic host in the Heavenly realm. Where did they end up? Earth. And frankly, they have been making a bloody hell of things in our world ever since they were thrust from God’s presence.
Since the forced removal, they have been on a course to destroy everyone and everything that we hold dear in this world. Jesus indicated in Luke’s Gospel that He saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. It was pride that lead to his fall.
Jesus always adopted the non-violent approach when dealing with difficult issues. He was all about reconciliation and seeking unity. He wants us to restore relationships, not tear them apart. According to the Bible, the Trinity sees everything that happens on the earth. At the end of the age, the Bible speaks of God having the last word. God says that vengeance will be His. We don’t need to take it upon ourselves to get even, although it goes against our very nature.
Dear friends, the fight is not against flesh and blood, although we think it is. Someone does something to us and we want to retaliate. Our entire focus should be directed off from people [flesh and blood] and the cross hairs should be placed on Satan and his demons [the spiritual forces of darkness in the unseen world]. This is where the battle is waging…for the very souls of humanity.
How is this fight won? Pray for grace and humility when tempers flare. Pray for compassion when emotion says this posture is insane. Pray that Christ will guide you when your respect and honor are gone for the one who has wronged you. Pray scripture when nothing else seems to be working. Pray that civility will reign and that you will demonstrate self-restraint. Pray that you will recognize the other, as one for whom Jesus died—one whom was handcrafted in the likeness of our Lord. Pray for peace and unity when you can’t see or feel it.
Personally, I take exception to the notion that our lot in life is the hope of sadness. I don’t think for a moment that we were created to be sad. Quite the opposite. Are there times in life where sadness creeps in…yes. But the overarching thrust in life, is to strive to return joyful gratitude to the One who gave it. Taking the focus off ourselves might be where we begin.
Tyre’s mother said her son had a “beautiful soul.” Can’t all of us do better?