We live in a fallen world. There’s just no other way to say it. How else can we describe this world that we live in where a group of extremists commit atrocious acts of violence and destruction in the name of religion. Almost a week ago, the terrorist group ISIS targeted and attacked the city of Paris, France, killing at least 129 people and injuring hundreds of others.
ISIS wants recognition for these horrible acts, whether it is the attack on Paris, the bombings in Beirut or even the destruction of a Russian plane in Sinai, which ISIS has claimed responsibility for, even though it has yet to be verified.
I feel a sense of foreboding every time I turn on a television, see a news update on my phone or open a newspaper. I feel utterly hopeless as I see all this evil in the world, and seeing all this evil makes it hard for me to likewise see the good.
While what happened to Paris and everywhere else is horrifying, I can’t help but notice the good that also comes out of these tragedies. People from around the world are wrapping their arms around France and declaring their support. I can’t tell you the number of people I’ve seen on Facebook who have changed their profile pictures to the French flag in honor of the victims of Friday’s attacks.
People have a knack for setting their differences aside and standing together in the face of tragedy and horror. Anyone who knows anything about America will tell you that Americans are people who are extremely individualistic, and we pretty much disagree on everything. However, when 9/11 occurred, we stood together as a nation, regardless of our skin color, religion or political affiliation. We embraced each other and mourned for what we lost.
ISIS wants the world to know how powerful they are by utilizing their greatest weapon: fear. They see this great war of theirs as “them against us,” not understanding that in committing these horrible acts, they truly did make it a war with them against the rest of the world. They created their own worst enemy by committing these horrible acts of violence; instead of remaining divided in our own differences, ISIS has caused people all around the world to come together. Like I said, nothing brings people together like these tragedies.
I’m truly sorry for what happened in France last week, and ideally, I’d wish that nothing like that would ever happen ever again. It isn’t realistic. I know that some time in the future, there will be a day where evil is eradicated, pain is just a memory and death is put to death. Our enemies aren’t those who walk on the earth; our Enemy is the one who wishes to keep as many people from our Lord as possible using every means necessary. God’s promised this day. What a glorious day that will be for us all.
