As I come home from a week of camp, in the wake of the events that have transpired in the past week, I am heartbroken, to say the least. I come home to news of four victims dead at the hands of police officers and four officers dead while covering a “peaceful” protest in Dallas. I have cried for all the victims. I have thought long and hard about everything that has gone down, and this is my conclusion: I have never been more confused in my entire life. There are so many issues that are present, and I cannot wrap my brain around it all. The issues surrounding these events run extremely deep. At this point, all I understand is that lives have been unnecessarily lost.

As mentioned above, I just returned home from camp, a church camp, where I was a sponsor. I was at a place where I was flooded with the goodness of God. I was teaching students (who were not allowed access to their phones this week) that God is good all the time. I was at a place where lives were changed for eternity. Now, as I sit here after an incredible week, I am confused. I would be lying if I said I haven’t asked God why this is all happening, and all I’m reminded is that sin entered the world, and we are a fallen people. The next question I ask myself (which may also be directed at the Lord) is: did the people who died ever hear the Gospel? Did they ever get the chance to change their lives for eternity like many of the students over the entire camp? Did they come before the Father, and did He say “well done, my good and faithful servant,” and welcome them into His kingdom, or did He tell them “I never knew you” and turn them away? These are the questions that have been running through my mind since I first got word of the events that have happened this week.

Odyssey has given me the opportunity to be the mouthpiece of those who aren’t heard, and I believe the Lord is calling on me to share the Gospel through this platform, where He will be given the glory in the midst of all this darkness.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory God,” which means all people are sinners and we are not worthy to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Ephesians 2:1-3 also says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the ways of the disobedient. All of us have lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature the objects of wrath.” Being human means being a sinner. We answer to our flesh and the world, and we are subject to an eternity separated from God because “for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).”

But Paul goes on to say, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions…(Eph. 2:4) ” The Father has offered His free gift of salvation through His son Jesus, who was crucified and bore the weight of every person’s sin. “While we still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)”.

You might be saying, “I am a good person. I do the right thing most of the time. I helped out someone who was struggling one time.” It is not by your works that get you into heaven, it is by realizing you are desperate and in need of a Savior and by accepting the gift our Father has offered to us. “For it is by grace, through faith, you have been saved- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God… (Eph. 2:8)”

If you are still reading at this point, you may be asking “What if God doesn’t hear me?” Fear not. Romans 10:13 tells us “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The Father loves you, and He hears you and He wants to save you. I implore whoever is reading this if you haven’t called on Christ to save your life, please go find someone to talk you through it. Don't wait any longer. The world we live in is as dark as it has ever been; don’t be unsure about your eternity when you leave it.

As always, peace and blessings.