Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
This message was written shortly after the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, U.S.A., on April 20, 1999. After today's events of a school massacre of 20 young children, and six adults working at the school, the words "Columbine High School" could be replaced with "Sandy Hook Elementary School." May our prayers be with the grieving parents, families, and friends of the victims. —The DDB Staff
---------------------------------------------------------
People are asking, how could a good God permit that terrible massacre at Columbine High School?
Human beings were created in the image of God, the highest order of created beings on this planet, but they are capable of being permeated with the spirit of Satan himself if they so choose. He is "the prince of this world." That's the Bad News. But humans are also capable of being permeated with the Spirit of God and to be members of the family of God, Christ the Son of God being their Elder Brother. That's the Good News. So, side by side with evil getting worse in the world, "the vine of the earth, ... her grapes ... fully ripe [for] ... the great winepress of the wrath of God," there is also developing a "harvest of the earth" consisting of people who choose to be permeated with the Holy Spirit of God (Rev. 14:14-19).
"The love of God [agape] is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us" (Rom. 5:5). That love is "manifested" in the cross of Jesus. "Herein is love [agape] because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). We "see" that love at the cross; we "comprehend" its "width and length and depth and height" (Eph 3:18); we appreciate it; we think of it, talk about it, marvel at it. We choose to let it enter our hearts where it is "shed abroad" therein.
We choose to react to temptation to sin the same way that Christ did in His life on earth: "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:11-14, NIV).
Let the Bad News drive you to the Good News. Satan claims this world as his kingdom; that's why these horrors happen, but Christ will wrest the throne from him. Fix your mind on that "blessed hope," and "let" the Holy Spirit come in to your heart. Then whether you face life or death, you will be on God's side in the great controversy now raging between Christ and Satan. You can be at peace, whatever may come.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 25, 1999.
Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to:dailybread@1888message.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
