NINE

On June 17th Dylann Roof, a young white man, walked into a Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and after a short while opened fire killing nine people. His goal was to incite a race war.

The persuant media and public outcry has largely centered on the state of race relations, mental health, gun control and whether or not local governments should be flying the Confederate flag. We have grown accustomed to this medley because this is not the first time we've danced this dance; nor is it likely to be the last. Not surprisingly the familiar refrain of "where was God, and how could He allow this" played especially loud this time and with deeper poignance because the setting for this particular episode was a house of worship. 

But it has occurred to me that in this instance God may have been especially active in the both the setting and the outcome. That young man had determined in his mind and soul that he would end black lives that night. He had the means to do so, the motive however twisted, and the God given free will to carry it out. The simple fact is nine people were going to die at his hand. 

I am certain to the very core of my soul that The Nine people who died that night are at this very moment rejoicing in the presence of God. Not a one was lost. They were there to worship, to serve, to pray, to seek the face of God. And now they may do so endlessly. 

But what if? What if he had chosen some other venue in the community. What if he'd managed to get past the security of the school he'd originally targeted? What if he'd gone to a nightclub instead? Or some other place where his potential victims might not have been prepared to meet God. What if he had struck them down in the midst of unrepentant sin? Is it not at least very likely they would be suffering now in eternal separation from the Father? 

And if that were the alternative can we not consider it possible that a compassionate God would not have it so? For He is not willing that any should perish. Could it be that He steered that young man's attention toward His children and away from those He is still pursuing to win? Far better for the Enemy to deliver God's own treasures into His bosom than for Nine little ones wandering in the wilderness to be lost to Him forever. And is this not His way? Don't we know this of our Father? It would not be the first time He allowed a beloved Child to fall that He might rescue and win the lost.

And what of the soul of that young man. In another setting someone might have been armed. They might have shot him down, robbing him of the chance to repent. Yes, even him. God would spare even the hate filled soul that He might have the opportunity to empty him and fill his hard heart with mercy and forgiveness. How wonderful the words of forgiveness being offered by that church even now for this young man. 

There is only one villain here: Satan. And he has won nothing in this foray. Nine have not fallen; Nine have risen. And Nine have been spared. But those who were spared must still be presumed lost. If the Nine lives sacrificed are to mean anything, we who remain must seek out the Nine who were spared. We must tell them of The One who died for them. We must win them, because the Enemy is targeting them. We must not fail. Let us each go out and find our Nine. Be they in our families, our offices, the store, or the street. Find the Nine and bring them home. And let us pray for Dylann too, and those who hate as he does, for he is just as lost and broken. He too has been given time to repent. And he too can be ransomed by the love of God.