May 24 had a chilling ring to it when news broke that 17 children and two adults had been shot dead in Uvalde, Texas.

The children were between the ages of 7 and 10, killed in cold blood in the security of their primary school classroom. Some had proudly received honours at an awards ceremony just hours before.

Their photos that followed in the next day’s reports showed toothy grins on squeaky clean faces bursting with the verve typical of that age.

A brazen evil, wouldn’t you say?

Another war

The date was hauntingly reminiscent of February 24, the day the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Then, the world at large drew a collective breath of disbelief – a sharp one. So preposterous was the act of aggression that it filled us with anger and revulsion.

Left in the rubble of the bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol was a trail of death and deceit. Screengrab from the Embassy of Ukraine in Singapore Facebook.

Reels of the carnage at hospitals, theatres and schools were preceded by warnings that the content would be distressing. Besides buildings razed to the ground, bodies whole and dismembered were portrayed, makeshift and mass graves filmed.

To date, there have even been satellite images of the fallen left on the streets to rot.

Russia’s insistence on its effort being a “special military operation” to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine has been soundly rebuffed. And yet, three months on, in spite of humanitarian and military aid to the tune of billions of dollars, hundreds are still dying every day as the war rages unabated.

The devastation has been so complete as to have been described as “hell”.

That’s as sure as can be a euphemism for the works of the devil.

A different reality

Indeed, the devil is the reason Jesus warned: “In this world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33a) 

He was manifested to destroy the works of that same devil (1 John 3:8), the final blow of which is still for another time.

Until then, we will continue to read desperation between the lines of every shocking news report that is published on indiscriminate shootings or incessant wars, in Uvalde or Ukraine, or elsewhere in the world.

The visual reminders of how bitterness and abject hatred can twist mind and matter will be appalling to us, and “Why God?” may be a question we never cease to ask.

It is unlikely that we will get an answer to our satisfaction this side of heaven, but there is still a place for the “Is God good?” discussion – if it leads us to the only place where it can be settled: God being real, God being good, God being sovereign is a decision we make in the valley of our souls when the world shows up a different reality.

Faith is, after all, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Wise counsel from the ancient Benedictine monk St Anselm of Canterbury goes like this: “For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe – that unless I believe I shall not understand.”

The call of Eternity 

God, who inhabits Eternity (Isaiah 57:15 KJV), is interested in welcoming us into it. Such is His grace and mercy on the world of sinners such as we.

Meanwhile, He will allow the fullness of His every word to be fulfilled, including the difficult ones which warn that while we are on this earth, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. (Ephesians 6:12) 

But because Jesus has said: “I have overcome the world”, we can take heart. (John 16:33b)

If we believe Him to be true to what He says of Himself and His plans to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), the call then on our lives is to arise and go about our King’s business. (Daniel 8:27)

Blood and fire and columns of smoke are prophesied for the last days, the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood as well (Joel 2:30-31). We who accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, however, can rest in the promise given in tandem, that “it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21)

That having been said, go forth. Publish peace. Portray Christ.

Be “those who are wise” and “shine like the brightness of the sky above”. Be “those who turn many to righteousness” and find yourself emanating God’s light “like the stars forever and ever”. (Daniel 12:3)

In the abyss of desolation that stretches before us, Jesus says: “Come. Walk on water.” (Matthew 14:29)

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In the midst of bad, and worse, news, there is still reason to take heart