The mark of evil is depicted very graphically in the media these days especially after events like a mass shooting at a school. I had a chance to talk to six high school groups of seniors about my career as an engineer this week. I spent 20 minutes for each school on the positive effect of a very rewarding career. However, I could not help but think of the horrible tragedy of the mass shooting in a school in Florida.
I did not share my thoughts with these students but I believe we are adversely affected by evil events. However, there was a beautiful image in the midst of tragedy, that stands out. It is a picture of a woman holding a child crying over the event that has just happened. She has been to church because she has the sign of the cross in ashes on her forehead. The picture reveals to me that even in the worse of times, the mark of righteousness is present. What if we did not legislate this presence away from our schools but embrace the reappearance? Would the mere presence of a higher authority protect us from evil? Maybe, but for sure, there is no chance when we reject the opportunity. Perhaps physically wearing the mark of righteousness on our forehead may be offensive to some but I suggest we should wear the mark in our hearts. This week Rev. Billy Graham laid in state honored by the world for his passion for what he believed and his witness to others who would also become believers.
In 1 Peter 3 starting at verse 18, it states that Christ suffered on account of our sins and was righteous on behalf of the unrighteous to bring us all into the presence of God. It also continues to say that baptism saves us not by cleaning dirt away but by the act that marks us with a good conscience toward God. Jesus genuinely started his ministry after his baptism. He was then led into the wilderness and was challenged by evil. I believe we are all challenged in the wilderness by evil. Some of us are weak and succumb to evil but some of us are given the gift of the mark of goodness. I hope while we see and hear the terrible events, we also see and feel His presence and recognize the solution.
T