HOPE

Twin Falls! Are we ready to give a reason for our HOPE?

In moments like these, when tragedy strikes close to home, our hearts are reminded just how fragile life truly is.

As I waited to hear the latest updates from the tragic shooting here in Twin Falls, a tragedy that has taken lives and forever changed the lives of so many, one question continued to weigh on my heart:

Are you ready to give a reason for your hope?

1 Peter 3:10-18

10 “For
‘Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the HOPE that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Verse 15 is what I keep reflecting on, but when you read it in context, it speaks about doing good and refraining from evil.

Yes, evil exists, and we have to accept that truth. Jesus encountered people who were demon-possessed. He was tempted by the devil. He also told some of the religious rulers of His day, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44), exposing the lies, deceit, and destruction that Satan seeks to bring. Jesus Himself said that the thief comes “only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

Here we are today, dealing with the effects of evil. As I have been pondering these things, I invite you to ponder them with me:

Are we ready to give a reason for the HOPE we have in Jesus?

We can give financially. We can grieve with those who have been directly affected. We can pray for the victims and their families. But are we also ready to give HOPE? There is only One who has defeated sin, death, and the devil, and that is Jesus Christ. Are we prepared to share that hope, even with the family of the shooter?

There is a saying many of us have heard: “Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.” If we continue to respond only to the symptoms of evil while neglecting the only One who has overcome it, should we expect the outcome to change?

My heart goes out to those who were killed, those who were wounded, and their families, even the family of the shooter. We can pray, give, and come alongside them as they walk through this unimaginable grief.

But how do we share our HOPE, the HOPE that is found in Jesus? He is the True Hero who defeated death. He was rejected, betrayed, mocked, beaten, and crucified because He loved us that much.

What if we put aside our own self-interests and the fear that keeps us from being true disciples of Christ? What if we became intentional about changing the culture for Christ? How many tragedies like this might be prevented because someone shared the HOPE that is found in Jesus?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to keep playing defense. I want to be on the offense. Jesus has already won the victory. He has already conquered sin, death, and the grave. If we truly want to make a difference in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, our public service, our cities, our counties, our state, and our nation, then we must believe, live, and boldly share that HOPE.

Scripture tells us that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). It’s time we started living like it.

Let’s honor those who were victims of this evil by going out and giving a reason for the HOPE that is within us.

We cannot change what happened in Twin Falls, but we can choose what happens next. We can choose to live differently. We can choose to love more deeply, pray more faithfully, and share the HOPE of Jesus more boldly. The world doesn't need more opinions, it needs the Savior. If there has ever been a time to be ready to give a reason for the HOPE that is within us, it is now. May we not allow this tragedy to pass without examining our own hearts and asking God to use us to bring His light into a world that desperately needs Him. Let us be people who not only speak about HOPE but live it, share it, and point others to the only One who has overcome sin, death, and evil, Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:13:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”