Anger, Murder -There is no Difference

In Canada we have been rocked by the tragic news of a needless, barbaric execution on board a Greyhound bus. A young, 20 something, man, grooving to his ipod slipping in and out of sleep has his life taken. The attacker, unprovoked, out of know where, decapitated this innocent young man with a Rambo like knife. This young man minding his own business murdered, slaughtered, his life now gone. To read and hear about the details of this crime brings feelings of outrage and causes that sick feeling in the pit of the stomach as the imagination tries to recreate this horrific seen.

It is easy to see and recognize the wrongness, evil, sin in this tragedy and stand up in judgment against it. After all we all recognize that this is evil. We become indignant, and lash out wanting to see justice handed out to the perpetrator of this physical outward act of gruesome evil, but are you or I much different.

Matthew 5:21-22--"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." It was Christ who spoke these words putting my anger towards a brother, a harsh word spoken to another on par with murder. We look at this gruesome murder and wonder how God could forgive such evil and yet my anger or harsh word is no different, each deserving of judgment.

All forgiveness for every sin under the sun finds its forgiveness and is paid for by the same blood whether it be my anger towards a brother or the grotesque slaughter of an innocent man listening to his ipod, it is paid for by the blood of Christ. Any sin against an infinite Holy God is and infinite offense and requires infinite payment. To break one law is to break them all!!

So in this tragic murder on a Greyhound bus I am reminded that I too am a murderer and it is only through Christ that I am saved, oh wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!