As I write this, the news is playing in my living room, and British voices are briefing the public on two concurrent attacks, deemed terrorist attacks. How do we respond to this? This shouldn't be normal for us, and yet gradually we have come to live in a world where terrorist attacks are practically the norm. We won't ever get used to it, though, no matter how often it happens. We won't get used to the grief and the horror, and we shouldn't because these attacks are horrific. Sin is at its most blatant and horrible when we see innocent people attacked for no reason other than evil.
It is natural for us to react in fear. I mean, this will never not be scary. At any moment, someone could attack. It could be easy to react in hate. The people who do these terrorist acts are evil. My initial reaction is stomach-sinking fear. But God reminded me of Psalm 27:3: "Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident." It definitely feels like an unseen army encamps against the world. And on top of that, there is an unseen Satan and all of his demons at war against humanity. Jesus says of Satan, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John10:10a) I don't know about you, but that's enough to make me want to curl up in a ball and hide. Yet David's song in the Psalms is fearless and confident. Why? Because God is David's light and salvation, the stronghold of his life (Psalm 27:1). We have God's presence, so we don't have to live in fear! Jesus said right after calling Satan a killer thief that "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10b). The reality of God's presence in our lives because of Jesus means that we can live life to the fullest because we have Him. Susannah Spurgeon wrote, "Having Him, you have all else." That means, as radical as this may sound, that even if a terrorist attack were to happen and I were right in the middle of it, I wouldn't have to be afraid because God is enough.
It also means that we can react even more radically in response to the terrorists themselves. It could be easy to react in hate, but Jesus died for everyone, and that means terrorists. We're called as Christians to love those who hate us, because that's what Jesus did for us. We were enemies of God, and while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. His love is more radical than radical Islamic terrorism. His heart is that none would perish, and that all would believe in Him and be saved.
I'm not saying that any of this is easy. It certainly isn't for me. But I firmly believe that one day sons of Isis will become sons of God. Satan is using the evils of terrorism to root us in fear and bury us in hate. But His grace is greater. And the gospel will go out to every nation and every tribe. We have a hope that is rooted within us deeper than fear. Our God's love has ushered us out of the grave. There is no place for hate among God's people. So tonight, I'm writing Psalm 27:3 on my hand and choosing to walk in the fearless confidence that comes within God's presence.
