(This piece was written soon after the terrorist attack in Mumbai on 26th November 2008.)
I am writing this at a time when everybody is wondering “What will happen next?” Terrorism has shaken us. God’s Word prophesies that “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). I was watching people fleeing here and there to escape death. But the days are coming when “in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” (Revelation 9:6). The reason for terrorism is a desire for revenge and an attitude of resentment and enmity. This desire of revenge has eliminated the trait of being humane from within humanity. This terrorism is the most shameful blot on our society. Death dwells amongst the living. Man is possessed by feelings of apprehensions and insecurity. Life has acquired the loneliness of a cemetery.
Many days ago I had read in a magazine about an incidence. I no longer remember the names or details of the people involved, what I do remember I am sharing with you in my own words. At a tourist destination of the Middle East, a family with three children had come to vacation in a hotel. Their eldest son was about 7 years old, the second daughter was about 6 years old and the youngest son was about a year old.
One day the sudden sound of gunfire startled the 6 years old girl. She ran and looked out of the window to see the body of her father lying in a pool of blood on the bank of the nearby river. Three or four other persons had caught her elder brother by his feet and were thrashing him around on the stones to kill him. In the meantime her mother too came and saw all this and immediately realized that they had been surrounded by terrorists, who would next be coming towards their cottage. The mother quickly lifted up her youngest son, grabbed the hand of her daughter and ran to hide in the warehouse. She first hid the girl amongst the sacks of grain and then hid herself at a short distance from her. The youngest son sitting in the mother’s lap started to cry for fear, she immediately covered his mouth with her hand tightly. The terrorists reached there and started to search for them throwing things here and there, but did not find them. They then gave up the search and left the place. When they had gone a short distance, the mother removed her hand from the face of her son, only to find him dead. In her nervousness, she had not just covered his mouth but his nose too and he had died because of it. The mother could not control her scream of agony, which was heard by the terrorists, who returned and killed her too.
The little girl sitting scared stiff amongst the sacks saw all this. For the next about six years she was unable to speak because of the shock. The 12 years old girl for the next 18 years, full of vengeance in her heart, had only one thought – “How can I extract revenge from those people?” This was the only aim she had in life. She had forgotten to smile or laugh. At such a time she came in touch with a servant of the Lord Jesus who told her about forgiveness of sins, peace, contentment and freedom. This restless girl prayed to God for mercy and for His peace; she was then delivered from the feelings of revenge she had grown up with. She then asked the Lord to show her what to do. The Lord spoke to her through His Word, “Be not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Today this same girl is serving the orphaned and destitute children of those terrorists. That experience of terrorism had nearly turned her into a terrorist too, but the Lord transformed her into a marvelous person. Now she is living her life not with hostility but love; not with an ill will but in doing good.
“Be not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Many days ago I had read in a magazine about an incidence. I no longer remember the names or details of the people involved, what I do remember I am sharing with you in my own words. At a tourist destination of the Middle East, a family with three children had come to vacation in a hotel. Their eldest son was about 7 years old, the second daughter was about 6 years old and the youngest son was about a year old.
One day the sudden sound of gunfire startled the 6 years old girl. She ran and looked out of the window to see the body of her father lying in a pool of blood on the bank of the nearby river. Three or four other persons had caught her elder brother by his feet and were thrashing him around on the stones to kill him. In the meantime her mother too came and saw all this and immediately realized that they had been surrounded by terrorists, who would next be coming towards their cottage. The mother quickly lifted up her youngest son, grabbed the hand of her daughter and ran to hide in the warehouse. She first hid the girl amongst the sacks of grain and then hid herself at a short distance from her. The youngest son sitting in the mother’s lap started to cry for fear, she immediately covered his mouth with her hand tightly. The terrorists reached there and started to search for them throwing things here and there, but did not find them. They then gave up the search and left the place. When they had gone a short distance, the mother removed her hand from the face of her son, only to find him dead. In her nervousness, she had not just covered his mouth but his nose too and he had died because of it. The mother could not control her scream of agony, which was heard by the terrorists, who returned and killed her too.
The little girl sitting scared stiff amongst the sacks saw all this. For the next about six years she was unable to speak because of the shock. The 12 years old girl for the next 18 years, full of vengeance in her heart, had only one thought – “How can I extract revenge from those people?” This was the only aim she had in life. She had forgotten to smile or laugh. At such a time she came in touch with a servant of the Lord Jesus who told her about forgiveness of sins, peace, contentment and freedom. This restless girl prayed to God for mercy and for His peace; she was then delivered from the feelings of revenge she had grown up with. She then asked the Lord to show her what to do. The Lord spoke to her through His Word, “Be not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Today this same girl is serving the orphaned and destitute children of those terrorists. That experience of terrorism had nearly turned her into a terrorist too, but the Lord transformed her into a marvelous person. Now she is living her life not with hostility but love; not with an ill will but in doing good.
“Be not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
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