Over the past five years…I’ve done well to avoid wading into addressing ‘current events’, for the most part, when writing and then sharing my daily blog lessons here on social media. Every now and then (and it’s rare)…I might feel compelled to point out something that strikes me as worth using as an object lesson; but by the grace of God I feel confident that I have kept these message ‘word centered’ and have avoided getting entangled with ‘news events’, and the cares of this life which can easily capture people’s fancy on any given day (Mark 4:19). But today will be one of those exceptions.

The reason I am going down this path in my lesson this morning is because both examples seem to ‘fit’ with a narrative that I’ve been addressing the past few days, and have been over these last several years. Take what you want from today’s message, but I do believe that many ‘natural’ events that pop up in our daily news cycles can oftentimes serve as a reminder, or better yet…a ‘reflection’ as to what is happening in our ‘spiritual’ world around us. Let me also make clear…this is NOT about reading of another rash of earthquakes and then using those news stories to suggest that the ‘end is near’ simply because Jesus pointed out something about ‘earthquakes’ when explaining what ‘signs’ would be prevalent leading up to His second coming, in Matt. 24:7.

Allow me to begin by first reminding all of us who profess to be a follower of Jesus, that we are to “set our minds on things above, and not on things of the earth” (Col. 3:2). I realize in this day of social media and 24/7 news feeds that the internet ‘highway’ continues to send our way, how difficult and challenging this can be.

Believe it or not, the tragic story of Lindsay Clancy did not even show up on my ‘radar’ until about two weeks ago when she had an emotional breakdown in courtroom, and the trial she is in had to take a brief recess. Don’t ask me how, but the incident in which she is being tried for escaped my notice altogether when her three children were killed by her in her own home a few years ago, and by her own admission. The next thing I then began hearing about was the growing groundswell of alternate ‘theories’ that many people who have been glued to this case have been espousing and discussing online and on various social media platforms. And no, I am not even about to enter that fray with all the ‘who-really-dunnit’ opinions.

But let me ask you this, whether you see yourself as a ‘believer’ or not when it comes to the gospel of God’s kingdom and ‘spiritual’ matters: How does a person NOT stop and give pause to question the reality that genuine ‘evil’ exits in this world…and then ponder what might be the source of that ‘evil’?

Back in Jesus’s day…people clearly recognized what was happening with many afflicted people in their midst, calling it out publicly: “My daughter or my son has a demon”…and then following up with a plea to Jesus to ‘deliver’ them from their torment (Mark 9:17; Matt. 15:22). Those pleas were then usually followed up with Jesus granting them their desperate requests because, after all…that is what Jesus came to do, according to Acts 10:38. So if people back then were ‘being vexed by demon spirits’ to do things seemingly beyond their ‘control’, at what point in history do you think these kinds of things ceased happening?

Hopefully you are open to the mindset that those things have not …stopped occurring, and in all likelihood happens more than you would want to dare realize. This would also be a good place to point out and remind any and all …that Jesus has never stopped setting ‘captives’ free. (Luke 4:18; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Acts 26:18)

I’ve not been watching the trial and have only caught snippets of news stories of various testimonies that have come out, but clearly…this woman has been in great torment, prior to the horrific crime committed, and afterwards. Think and say what you will about her, but if people like her (or her husband) are not candidates of God’s mercy and forgiveness, not to mention ‘deliverance’… then NONE of us are. This woman was ‘hearing voices’ and reportedly felt or sensed something ‘taking over her’ in those days/hours leading up to the killing of her children. If you are in the camp that wants to settle on the belief that the source of blame is placed solely on  ‘body chemistry’…then you have that prerogative. But if you claim to be a ‘believer’ and a reader of your Bible, please do not dismiss the real source as to where this evil darkness is coming from, and go underline Eph. 6:12; 1 John 5:19 in your ‘good Book’.

No, this does not absolve the woman (or her ex-husband) of any crime committed; but if you are not devastated by this heartbreaking story and feel no compelling to pray a similar prayer that Jesus prayed while hanging on a cross (Father forgive them for they know not what they do- Luke 23:34)…then you waive your opportunity to have that same prayer uttered over yourself by Jesus, for with the same judgement you judge others, so shall you too be judged (Matt. 7:1-2; Rom. 8:34).

Oh, and the other news story dominating our news feeds of late, is the unbelievable footage and details coming out of Nepal after that devastating landslide. The last death toll number I heard was around the 300 mark, with 3000 people still reportedly missing. No, I’m not suggesting that the ‘devil’ was responsible for that landslide disaster, nor hinting that God ‘triggered’ it in order to display His ‘wrath’. But I will tell you that every time I see a clip of that wall of mud and rock and water and debris ‘flood’ through that town, the same few passages come to mind, the first one found in Isa. 59:19- “when the enemy comes in like a flood…”. The other passage is found in Luke 17:27. That’s when Jesus described what the last days would be like when a ‘flood’ would come and carry people away to destruction, never having known what hit them (Matt. 24:39).

When we are admonished to remain vigilant and clear headed because of a spiritual ‘enemy’ who is on the prowl seeking to devour (1 Pet. 5:8)…and that we are to ‘give him NO place’ into our lives (Eph. 4:27)…maybe we should sit up and make note that God is serious about issuing such warnings, because the unimaginable can happen to anyone, unless they repent (Luke 13:1-5).

Sorry(not sorry) if I disappointed you by not addressing the recent passing of Dolly or the latest name changing of lakes.  Have a blessed day.