A Few More Thoughts on the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

This week we have learned the importance and reality of Rom 12:15 —

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

You could not read the headlines, watch the news or hear the reports of what happened at Virginia Tech and not be moved to compassion.

Amidst all the “analysis,” however, there has been little that has been helpful in understanding from a theological perspective, what transpired that day, and how we are to respond and how we are to think about God in the midst of this.

Five thoughts —

• This is the reality of what unrestrained sin looks like and is the natural result of the work of Satan. He is a destroyer (1 Pt. 5:8) and a murderer (Jn. 8:44; 10:10a), and we should not be surprised (though it is a work of grace that we are, since it indicates that sin is still a horror to us) that those who live under his control, authority and domain do such things. (And this is the potential for every man — Rom. 3; Mt. 5:21-22 — if you have ever known anger, you know what the heart of a murderer looks like.)
• The suddenness of their deaths serves as a reminder to the realities of eternity — heaven and hell and the truth that all men will go to one place or the other (Rev. 22:11-15).
• Thus, the events of the week also serve as a reminder about the urgency of the gospel and the need for the clarity of the gospel. We do not know how much time we have. We must be clear, and we must be clear, now. We want to give saving truth, not pacifying words that will leave them comfortable now and condemned in hell later.
• Even in this, there is an opportunity to glorify God. Job said it, didn’t he (in a situation not too dissimilar from what we’ve seen this week) — “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Situations like this will not destroy our worship; they will enhance it. That is why we intentionally sing the doxology when we remember events like this.
• God is sufficient to see anyone through any trouble (2 Pet. 1:3). What all men need is not so much the removal of trouble, but an awareness of the weight of glory that awaits those who trust in Christ (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

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See also:

John MacArthur (audio)
Al Mohler — "Playing the Blame Game -- Who Is to Blame for Blacksburg?" and "On Faith"
Peggy Noonan
John Piper