A friend of mine from back home in Tennessee who has an African-American son was wondering on Facebook what difference all the protests this week over the killing of George Floyd would make. The answer: not much.
The regrettable fact is that we’ve always had people who break the law. We’ve always had people who don’t treat each other equally. We’ve always had people who hatefully oppress others. Solomon made the observation in Ecclesiastes that there was “nothing new under the sun” (1:9).
As much as I resist wanting to be so negative, I have to face reality. As long as sin and Satan are in the world, there’s going to be anger, sadness, and suffering. Yes, there will be new protocols and training put in place by police departments, but it’s effect will be minimal. We’ll float along until the next tragic incident upends American society.
The only factor that can mitigate this is Jesus Christ. Only He has the power to defeat the devil. John wrote, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Obedience to Him allows men to stand against the powers of evil (Ephesians 6:10-13). We can be successful because earlier in the letter John had written to young men who had overcome the “wicked one” (1 John 2:13). Only He can give hope beyond the suffering we experience (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). It may feel like an imperfect solution now, but heaven will be worth it for everyone who wants to make a difference beyond this temporary world.
Kyle Campbell
