Thought for the Month - July 2017

"Getting away scot-free" by Barry Adair
(Poppy Day Massacre)

I think it was our Pastor's talk on "individual soul liberty" that put this month's 'Thought' into my head. Jonny had also touched on the subject of judgement and it was later that the phrase "getting away scot-free" jumped into my head and stayed there for a couple of weeks. I ended up 'googling' the phrase and its meaning. Although you would think that it has something to do with a guy from Scotland (i.e. a Scot), it is actually to do with getting away without paying any tax (a scot), hence scot-free. Of course, nowadays, scot-free is usually used when someone evades justice and is said to be "getting away scot-free".

I then thought about those in our land (specifically in Northern Ireland) who are presently getting away scot-free. My mind immediately jumped to what has become known as the "Poppy Day Massacre". To those not from Northern Ireland and not familiar with some of the worst IRA atrocities, a no-warning bomb at a Remembrance Day Service in Enniskillen on 8th November 1987 killed 12 and injured over 60 people. 11 died during or closely after the huge explosion near the town's war memorial, while the 12th death, Mr Ronnie Hill, died 13 years later, having never woken from a coma. All were local men and women and included one reserve Police Officer. Those killed that day were there remembering the fallen during two World Wars who had laid down their lives for others.

As I write today, not one person has been convicted for this inhumane crime. 12 lives extinguished without anyone facing justice! According to the editor of a local Enniskillen newspaper, the 40 pound Semtex IRA device was made in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim and up to 30 IRA "volunteers" helped bring it across the Border in a coordinated effort to avoid its detection by security forces. Two local men had helped locate the site of the bomb in Enniskillen. Also that same day the IRA placed another bomb (140 pounds!) near the Remembrance service in Tullyhommon, 16 miles from Enniskillen where around 200 members of the local boys' and girls' brigades took part. Mercifully, this other bomb failed to explode.

All those involved in the Enniskillen massacre, from bomb making, to planning, to intelligence, to transportation, numbered well over 30 people! As of today, every one of them has got away scot-free. No-one has paid the price for the 12 lives lost and for the dozens still living with the physical and mental scars from that dreadful day. Thirty years later, one of those injured still wakes up at night searching frantically through the rubble for his father who was later found dead. And what of those who sanctioned the attack? I haven't even mentioned them. Again, all is silent and I have read reports suggesting that this silence may be connected with the on-going Peace Process here in Northern Ireland!

10 years after the Enniskillen Remembrance Day explosion Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein) apologised on behalf of the IRA for the death and destruction brought to the town that fateful day. Of course, no names of those involved in bombing the heart and soul out of Enniskillen were provided and all escape justice to this day.

To this day perhaps - but one day the truth surrounding all evil deeds will be uncovered. As a Christian and believer in the Bible, I know of a day when all that was planned in hate will be revealed. All that is presently hidden will come to light. All the dark recesses of men's hearts will yield their filthy secrets. All crimes against humanity will be fully known. The books with every detail about our lives will be opened. Our righteous God cannot allow sin to go unpunished and He won't!

Revelation 20:11,12,15

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Only those who have had their robes washed clean with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. born-again believers) will be spared. Even those who have been forgiven of their sins will still have to stand before God and give an account of their lives (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Although this has all been about judgement thus far, I want to end with forgiveness. I did say that God cannot allow sin to go unpunished and this is true. But, and it is a huge 'but', Jesus died willingly on a cruel Roman cross to pay for our sin. And if we believe this fact personally and, with repentance, accept His free gift of forgiveness, then we will never again be confronted with our sins. They will have all been covered by the precious blood Jesus shed on Calvary's cross!

And yes, if those involved in murdering 12 innocent men and women in Enniskillen in 1987 bow the knee in abject repentance for the evil they have done and humbly confess their sins before our righteous God, then God will hear their plea and forgive them. None of us could ever satisfy the holiness required by God, only God's sinless Son could do that and that is why He had to die. Jesus paid the ultimate cost and we can only ever receive God's forgiveness through His atoning death. And if you think about it, those of us who have already received God's free gift of salvation are also getting away scot-free too.

We are all sinners. But sinners saved by grace. Thanks be to God!

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

 

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!