Reflecting on life

Today is 23^rd July 2012, the day after the anniversary of last year's terror attacks on Norwegian soil. The anniversary was in remembrance of those 8 who were killed in the governmental area in the city centre of Oslo and of those 69 who were killed on the island Utøya.

 

22^nd of July in Norway will forever be a day for reflecting on life. These are among the messages our prime minister expressed yesterday. Reflecting on life is good. Also on 22^nd July. In a blink of an eye, a life can come to an end. Due to one person's evil behavior, 77 lives came to an end 22^nd July last year.

 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. Breivik behaved in the spirit of the thief when he stole so many daughters and sons and fathers and mothers from their loved ones. He behaved in the spirit of the thief when he killed those 77 persons. He behaved in the spirit of the thief when he destroyed so much for so many people.

 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. This is the first sentence of verse 10 in the 10^th chapter in the gospel of John in the Bible. It was Jesus who expressed it and he referred to the devil. The devil comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. On 22^nd July last year, he came to do this through Breivik. There was laughter. There was everyday life. There were holiday plans. There were birthday parties to be celebrated. But Breivik behaved in the spirit of the devil and put an end to all of it for those 77 people and their families, relatives, friends and colleagues.

 

Reflecting on life is good. The second sentence of the scripture mentioned above, after stating that the devil comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, says that Jesus came with abundant life. In the same gospel, John, Jesus says in chapter 11 and verse 25 that whoever believes in Him, although he may die, he shall yet live.

 

Death is not the end. The devil does not have the final solution. Jesus has the final solution. Whoever believes in Jesus, even when he or she dies, he or she shall yet live. Jesus is the way, Jesus is the truth, and Jesus is the life.

 

Let us reflect on life. Let us reflect on the life that was brought to us by Jesus. This is the only life that will stand against the devil's attempts to steal and kill and destroy. For whoever believes in Jesus Christ, death has no sting.