Terrorists are scary! That’s why they are called by that name. Part of their goal is to spread terror.
Many terrorists do their work out of a misplaced devotion to the god they serve. In fact, wars have been carried out in the name of God.
Jesus warned us.
“The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.”
John 16:2
How could anyone possibly think they were offering a service to God by killing someone? Jesus answered that question.
“They will do such things because they have not known The Father or Me.”
John 16:3
So how do we win the war on terror? By a heavy dose of Love that will not kill bodies, but will save souls. We win the war, not by eliminating people, but instead bringing them into The Kingdom of God. And we can rejoice, as their testimonies are heard around the world.
We often forget that one of the most extreme terrorists, who specifically targeted Christians, became one of the greatest Christian missionaries of all times. Paul, once known as Saul, wrote much of the New Testament of The Bible.
What happened? He came to know Jesus as God and he experienced first hand the wonder of His Love, Mercy and Grace.
Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen, a Christian who was martyred for The Lord. Saul heard the living words of Stephen, as he left his earthly body.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Acts 7:59-60
However, Saul was not deterred from his mission until he met Jesus in the form of a blinding Light. Jesus called Saul by name. Saul realized Jesus knew him personally.
Jesus then asked him a question that further brought things to a personal level.
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
Acts 9:4
Jesus did not ask Saul why he was persecuting His Followers. Jesus wanted Saul to know Jesus Himself was in each of those God had created. Saul was attacking Him.
Paul would later teach his followers the same amazing revelation, when he said,
“Do you not know that your bodies are Temples of The Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God?”
1 Corinthians 6:19
The world would be quite different if we realized that every person God created is a Temple inhabited by Him. When we come against Him, it is personal. We are seeking to silence His Voice, Who we do not recognize beneath the outer shell of human wickedness.
God Himself set the record straight when He said,
“I don’t want wicked people to die,” declares The Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.”
Ezekiel 18:23
Saul, who became Paul wrote the well known Love Verses of 1 Corinthians 13. We have shared in his celebration of Love in the last few posts.
Paul wrote with great joy of His Discovery of The Power of Love.
“I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from The Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Love never fails!
1 Corinthians 13:8
