Fully Alive:
Becoming The Man God Intended

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Evil, Tragedy & The Christian Man

GodComfortsBefore I begin, a brief caution is called for. While this article is directed toward Christian men it is not intended to minimize the importance of, or responsibility given, to Christian women. I am dealing with men first, because they are the primary focus of our ministry, but particularly out of a deep understanding of the importance God places upon us to lead our families with spiritual wisdom and authority.

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. -Gen 7:1

Shortly after the recent tragedy in Orlando, Florida I came across this scripture as part of my morning devotional reading. The author pointed out the conditions that existed in the society around the time of the flood and the similarities to what is happening in our world today are astounding. Here is an excerpt:

The children of Noah faced a significant decision. They lived in a world where everyone blatantly disregarded God. Wickedness was the norm. No one would have condemned Noah's sons for living evil lives like the rest of society — no one except their father. In a world rampant with ungodly attitudes and every form of wicked behavior, they were fortunate to be Noah's sons. When their father invited them to spend the next hundred years building an ark in obedience to a word from God, Noah's sons had to choose whether to believe those around them or to trust their father. They chose to join their father. What a wonderful testimony of Noah's godly influence in his home! How fortunate for Shem, Ham, and Japheth that their father refused to compromise his integrity, even though everyone else in his society had done so. –From Experiencing God

What is of utmost importance here is NOT the circumstances that existed around them or even the building of the Ark itself. Rather, it is Noah’s response. In the midst of evil and tragic circumstances he maintained his intimacy with God which enabled him to become the sound voice or calming influence to the family God had entrusted to him.

Dear friend therein lies the lesson for you and me today. The issue right now is not the tragedy that unfolded in Orlando or even the people who perpetrated it—rather, it is our response to it as men of God. We are called to be His agents with our wives, children and grandchildren and ultimately to all with whom we come in contact. Like Noah we are called to usher them into a safe place.

So, here is the BIG question. What do people around you see in your response to tragic circumstance? Are you helping them to see things through the eyes of our Lord or contributing to more of a worldly mindset and response?

I want to leave you with three things to consider as you endeavor to become God’s agent in the midst of trying circumstance and tragic events. I would ask you to prayerfully process them and decide to challenge yourself in areas where you may be falling short.

1. Seek God

  • Our first response is to seek God in prayer and ask Him to give you the right (Godly) perspective on what has occurred
  • Ask Him to help you focus your attention on what happened not the people involved
  • Let Him know how much you love Him and know that He is in control and ask Him to prepare you to meet the needs of those around you 
1. Calm others
  • Become a Jeremiah man. Jeremiah looking over the rubble of a destroyed city says, Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
  • Beginning with your own family, become a calming influence.   This is especially important with your wife, kids and even extended family members. Remember, when you profess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, people are watching you—it is at times like this that they want to know if being a follower of Christ really makes a difference.
  • With others you encounter either at work, in your neighborhood or even at church, do not allow yourself to fall into the trap of talking about people, politics or conversations that take you away from how God might view things
3. Focus on our REAL enemy
  • Pray for our nation every day and ask God to protect us from the great deceiver who has come to steal, kill and destroy

Eph. 6:12-17 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.