Like many, I watched with horror the assassination attempt on our former president, Donald Trump. After several agonizing minutes, listeners heard the announcement the former president was “fine.” I hung on television commentators explaining over and again how “lucky” the former president was in missing the attempted assassin’s bullet by a fraction of an inch.
Luck. Can you explain luck? Sure, maybe at the racetrack we try to get lucky and if our horse wins, we consider it good luck. We beat the odds. We cash in our ticket and smile. Should we lose, it is nothing but bad luck. Granted, many people live life this way. Their understanding ultimately leads to fate. Such a perspective creates a worldview walking a tightrope—without a net—uncertain as to who is in control much less, what in the world tomorrow will bring. Ultimately, living by luck, renders a life around anxiety, fear, and worry.
Recall Jesus saying to his followers, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34) Point being, today is the day to give it all.
Living by faith in God, or relying on our faith in Jesus, is how we step forward into the unknown. Explanations for suffering, tragedy, and near-misses are resolved with faith. Standing on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ we are aware of the Word so that when we hear the word “fight” it is not a reference to fighting one another.
People of faith are focused on a deeper, more profound understanding of life, by opening our eyes, mind, heart and will to the word St. Paul writes, “our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh but…against powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
A different perspective enters with faith. Yes, we are vulnerable like anyone else in the world. Of course, we are human and limited in our time here on earth. But there is so much more to consider. For example, Christian faith provides us with a vision for life, a never-ending life with God. Like the law of gravity, there are times we do not think about God’s presence.
Then, the unthinkable happens. Following the shooting, as Donald Trump was helped to his feet, he made a fist-pump shouting the word “fight!” Again, different commentators interpreted his expression differently but as a person of faith, it spoke clearly to the Christian audience of the unseen, the darkness and the demonic world that is as real as real can be.
Within this context, we think “to put on the armor of God…take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:11, 16). In other words, our faith brings focus to what is unseen, light to a world of darkness, and the shield of faith which quenches whatever evil forces our sent our way.
So, we put on the armor of God, with faith not luck, as we think through the unthinkable.
