Well We Have To Do Something!

Jeremiah 17:9; Ezekiel 36:26

When we last left off, we saw that laws will not fix hearts. This means that gun laws, seatbelt laws, drug laws, and any other kind of law we can name simply will not fix the problem. Laws only restrict those who are already obeying the law. They condemn those who break the law. We also noted that no solution had been provided. So, what is the answer to lawlessness?

Remember that I said the problem was not with laws or inanimate objects, but with the heart of people. The Prophet Jeremiah said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). We break laws because of sin in our heart. We break the laws of our government because of sin in our heart (unless the laws themselves tell us to sin). We break rules in school or work because of sin in our hearts. Our hearts are evil according to God and spoken through Jeremiah.

If we want to help the problem, we must address the heart. The only person that can change our hearts is Jesus. God said through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). Do we want to reduce the gun violence problem in schools? The solution is the Gospel. You want to reduce the problem of workplace violence? The solution is the Gospel. As Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again" (John 3:3). The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (II Corinthians 5:17).

Many politicians say today that Christianity has no place in the government. This is not only in elected positions or the halls of Congress, but it extends down to our schools. Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (1802) has been misinterpreted and carries more weight than the constitution itself. Now the "wall of separation" that was intended to keep the government out of the church, is being used to keep the church out of Government. That was never the intention of any of the Founding Fathers. If we want God's grace and protection back, we must bring Him back. This means being Christians everywhere we go. This means not being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).

These boys and men that are shooting up schools have problems, but the problem is less psychological and more spiritual. They need their heart changed. They need Jesus to redeem them from their sin and hatred. They need their heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Yes, they can receive His forgiveness even after they have committed their terrible crimes, but wouldn't it be so much better if they had received Him before they committed the crimes? They needed the Gospel before things went too far. The next potential school shooter needs the Gospel before things go too far! Every individual needs the Gospel before it is too late!

People have said, "The time for praying is over. Now it is time for action". First, the time for praying is never over. Statements like that are made by people who do not know the God they are supposedly praying to, and they do not know His power. Second, if you want to take action, SHARE THE GOSPEL! FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES...! (Romans 1:16)

Father, we live as though we do not know You anymore. We try to fix the problem of sin by our own works and things keep getting worse. Help us to remember that You have already dealt with the issue of sin. Help us to turn back to You, and to proclaim the Gospel which will turn others to You!