A Taste of God from Two Perspectives

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. . .You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good – Gen. 50:19-20

Devin Patrick Kelley walked into a small Texas church on Sunday morning (Nov. 5) and murdered twenty-six people.

How could God allow this to happen?

God has His reasons for allowing bad things to happen. Joseph’s response to his brothers who had thrown him into a pit and had him eventually taken to Egypt where he also spent time in prison and living in harsh conditions was, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”

I would like for us to look at this tragedy from two perspectives.

First, from a human perspective.

The lost of a loved one through death is a human tragedy because of the apparent separation that will be the outcome. When Jesus came to the funeral of His good friend, Lazarus (John 11), the Bible says that “Jesus wept” (v. 35). Shortly after, Jesus did raised Lazarus back to life (vv. 43-44), but the apparent separation and loss of life is always felt as a human tragedy.

Second, from God’s perspective.

For God, the loss of physical life is the entrance to eternal life and therefore, it is precious in His sight. The bible says that it is “precious in the sight of God when His godly ones die” (Psalm 116:15). This is another way of saying that God is concerned over such matters, but knows also that through death, they will be with Him in eternity forever.

Over in the last book of the Bible, we read, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Rev. 14:13). Those who die as Christians because they know Jesus as their Lord and Savior are blessed!

Paul felt so strongly about this blessedness that he said, “To die is gain” (Philip. 1:21). What is there to gain, Paul? Answer: The presence of God – “To be absent from the body (dead) is to be at home with the Lord (His presence) – 2 Cor. 5:8.

No wonder Jesus made this powerful statement: “Do not fear those who can kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear God who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell” (Matt. 10:28).

Twenty-six people are in heaven since Sunday because God allowed a mad-man to kill their bodies. What he meant for evil, God orchestrated for the victims something greater and better.

But never ever forget this: Devin Patrick Kelley is in hell in extreme torment where he will remain forever.

Listen, never ever think of hell as a mere place of fire and therefore that’s why it is a bad place to be. Hell is hell because of God’s presence, not absence. “Fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.”

Is hell a place of fire? Yes, but also a place of God’s presence, especially His wrath. Concerning the presence of God the Bible teaches that “our God is a consuming fire!” (Heb. 12:29). Therefore, “it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

While heaven is place where God presence is revealed through His love, hell is a place where God’s presence is revealed through His wrath.

We often hear that hell is eternal separation from God. Nothing could be further from the truth. In hell, no one is separated from God’s presence. Instead, they are separated from God’s redemptive love and forgiveness and now are destined to experience His eternal wrath and anger forever.

Psalm 139:7-8: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in hell, YOU ARE THERE!

How about this one – Rev. 14:9-10: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the PRESENCE OF THE LAMB.”

Don’t ever think that hell is eternal separation from God. It would be better for people such as Devin Patrick Kelley if that were only true! But hell is the outpouring of the wrath of God – His personal presence -- upon the sinner forever!

What did you say, Jesus? “Fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.”

For the victims of the church shooting – peace and rest in the presence of God; for the perpetrator – torment and unrest in the presence of God. Therefore, you have in this case – a taste of God from two perspectives.

Devin Patrick Kelley walked into a church and shot twenty-six people intending to do them harm. But God always has the final word over anything that man does or thinks. What he intended for harm, God intended for something better – for the victims. And what about for Devin Patrick Kelley? A side of God’s presence that will consume him with pain and agony for all eternity. Sinners do not get the last word – God does.

Who do you want to align your soul with in these last and troubling days?