In dealing with the subject of the tragedy in Connecticut that has caught the attention of our nation, we should keep in mind that there are (in reality) thousands and thousands of personal tragedies that take place every day in our country. Everything from “accidents,” to acts of violence, to the slaughter of unborn children in their mother’s womb, to the psychological and spiritual rape of our nation through drugs, pornography, false religion, and many other devilish acts… It’s almost as if HELL itself has enlarged its mouth, and is about to swallow our nation.
‘It is a part and duty of spiritual wisdom, as also an evidence of a due reverence to God, to take notice of extraordinary occurrences in the dispensations of His providence; for they are instructive warnings, and of great importance in His government of the world. In them, (Micah 6:9) “The Lord’s voice cries to the city.”’ – Works of John Owen (vol. 8, p.597)
Luke 13:1-5 has some very real implications for us. Through this horrific tragedy the Lord’s voice is not just crying out to the people of Newtown, CT, it’s crying very plainly to each one of us, ‘Unless you REPENT, you will all likewise perish.’
Bryan Wheeler Pastor Bryan Wheeler was converted to Christ in 1973. For most of the 20 years that he served in the U.S. Air Force he was actively involved in church-based preaching and teaching ministries in the U.S. and overseas. Pastor Wheeler was ordained into the gospel ministry in 1987 and was called into full time ministry in 1989. He is the pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Verona, VA. He and his wife Maureen were married in 1968 and the Lord has given them 6 children and 4 grandchildren.
