A gunman kills 49 people in a nightclub. The gunman was Islamic and acted in the name of ISIS, an Islamic terror organization.

The victims of this tragedy were at a bar known as a hangout for those who practice homosexuality. Likely all of the victims either embraced, practiced, or at least approved of this behavior.

What are we to make of this horrible event?

In the first 4,000 years, the devil lied to Eve, she and Adam disobeyed God, Cain killed Abel, the world became violent, Sodom & Gomorrah became perverse, Canaan chose idolatry, Egypt enslaved Israel, Israel blamed Moses, God endured their ingratitude, Balaam counseled fornication, Achan brought reproach, God was rejected for a king, Saul listened to the people, David committed adultery and murdered to cover it, Solomon was turned from God by foreign wives, Assyria & Babylon enslaved Israel, temple builders neglected their work and built for themselves. Rome then came along and took everything unto itself and countless injustices were done in dark corners all along the way.

God sent his own son into this mess, and he remains all that really matters.

Is 49 dead something new? Isn’t codified religious or political hatred standard fare in this world? We try to take it all in, but it is too much. Our emotions are assaulted and we are incapable of processing all of the important facets of what is going on. Hate, love, justice, anger, heart-break, confusion….. Amidst all of the white noise and smoke screens of political posturing and moral pontifications we are left wondering….. What to do? What to say? What to think?

Think about Jesus. Do what you believe he would have you do. Say what he would have you say.

Like the 49, and like the shooter, we will all one day stand before Jesus. At that moment like no other it will become absolutely crystal clear that he alone really is all that matters.

Jesus, and all that he teaches, is still the answer. Yes, stay the course.