Moments ago another college campus shooting took place, this time at my alma mater, Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL.  The shooting took place in Cole Hall where I had multiple classes, on the stage where we used to have Campus Crusade evangelistic outreaches.  As I write this reports are flowing in that a man entered the class in the middle of a geology lecture filled with some 200 students and wounded at least 17 people, several of whom may be dead.  A combination of reactions fill my heart:

1.      Angry.  Hopefully it is righteous anger, but only the Lord Jesus had that perfectly.  It makes me ask the question that the Psalm writer asks:

 Psalm 94:3   O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 

God’s answer is this: 

 Romans 12:19   Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

2.      Sober.  This is another chilling example of depravity in our culture.  While we should be horrified by wickedness, we should expect that sin will often take morbid and dark forms such as this.

 Romans 3:10-12  ”None is righteous, no, not one;  ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God.  ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 

3.      Saddened.  It grieves me to think of the fear and pain happening on the campus that brought me such sweet memories.  Unfortunately many of these students will have this forever mark and stain their college years.  

4.     Hopeful.  At Virginia Tech there was a great outpouring of Gospel ministry that happened as a result of that tragedy.  Somehow, God is pleased to get glory in dark providences such as this.  Let’s pray for those who are injured, scarred, and for those who will minister to them in the coming days, weeks, and beyond.