In the face of the Newton tragedy, we don’t need easy, trite answers, but the deep, bedrock truths that comfort and sustain us through all of life. Thankfully Kevin DeYoung reminds us that we have catechisms for such occasions, especially the Heidelberg:

Q1. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A1. That I am not my own,
but belong–
body and soul,
in life and in death–
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.

(The Heidelberg Catechism, Question and Answer 1)

The catechism points us to the only deep comfort we can have in the face of truly horrendous evil: Jesus Christ. I will have some thoughts on this whole thing in a later blog, but for now, I’d like to just offer you a song that’s been of great comfort to me in times of distress. In “Revelator” Josh Garrels gives us John’s vision of comfort to the martyrs in Revelation 5, of the Lamb who was Slain, seated on the throne, the suffering but victorious Lord of history. Take a few minutes to listen, read the lyrics, maybe go read Revelation 5, and look to Jesus.

Had a dream I was alone
A vast expanse of complete unknown
Sea of glass so clear it shone,
Like gold
Then a voice like thunder clapped,
As a dead man I collapsed
I am the first, I am the last,
Now rise my son

Then behold ten thousand kings,
And every creature worshipping
Every eye was on one thing,
One man
He’s like a lion like a lamb,
As though slain he holds the plan
To make war and peace with man,
And reign on earth

Holy, Holy, is the One,
Who was, and is, and is to come
In a robe as red as blood,
He comes forth
Ride like lightning in the sky,
On the war horse he draws nigh,
The same one we crucified,
Will return again

Holy, Holy, is the One,
Who was, and is, and is to come
In a robe as red as blood,
He comes forth
Ride like lightning in the sky,
On the war horse he draws nigh,
The same one we crucified,
Will come again

Soli Deo Gloria