Reading the news about the atrocity of the UK riots, and even of riots in other parts of the world has made me wonder how man can be so lawless when given the chance to show their true colours.
How many of us have clear, inherent ethics and principles that we will stick to in spite of trying circumstances?
How many will not succumb to looting and murder when they are starving hungry?
Or even in the case of these so-called civilized people living in grossly privileged, developed nations, who are not even to the point of starvation or in great depravity.
Even children are seen running about amok in the rioting crowds looting and adding to the havoc. It is quite unbelievable. You'd think only barbarians would act like this. But no, even educated, normally well-mannered folk can run around harming even the common people and beating up the police.
This makes me think, what of the people around me today? What about myself? If I were in a situation when the law no longer bounded me, where 'everyone else' is running around doing as they please in the cause of so-called 'rioting', would I join the band-wagon as well?
What about people I know? Nice, friendly, kind, caring people. If they were placed in desperate situations; if they had to steal or kill for food; if they had to harm others to save themselves; if they had to forsake their friends and family to preserve their own lives, would they very well succumb to such pressures?
If I had to one day deny Jesus to save my temporary existence on earth, would I do it?
These are unanswerable questions for the moment. But really, it is the questions that make this meaningful and intriguing, not concrete answers. It is the tight rope of faith that I'm balancing on that makes this life exciting. But then again, I am in a precarious position. I could fall. I could very well succumb and go with the flow. I could very well turn into a monster if I were forced to show my true colours. Now THAT'S a scary prospect for each of us.
Despite all the laws and regulations this world has now, things don't seem to be getting any better. Despite all the high-flying technology, despite education, the number of hungry people and impoverished families continue to increase steeply. Despite all the knowledge man has, there is still that inherent stain of evil intent in each of our hearts.
What can deliver us from this except the blood of Jesus sacrificed as an atonement for our fallenness?
People will still continue living, working, protesting, rioting, whatever. But won't they realize that it is all in vain if they have not the stamp of Christ's redemptive work on their lives?
The world will only continue to decline. We know it. Everything is only being held together by a thin, flimsy frame. By the grace of God we will have a bit more time. Meanwhile the world is filled with chaos, confusion, deception, and ultimately anarchy. In many places its already happening. Some of us are safer, others are not. Whatever it is, lets hold on the the TRUTH and the HOPE that we have in Christ Jesus.
~ J a n i e ll e
