‘With nigh on 30 years in the police service . . . you think you've
seen it all until you learn of yesterday's events’. These are the words of Chief
Superintendent Adrian Watson of Police Scotland speaking at a news conference
after the tragic death of a sixteen-year-old youngster stabbed to death in an
Aberdeen school. One relatively simple act by another sixteen-year-old male has
devastated a family, mentally scarred a school, its children and staff, and
shocked a community.
Some may remember that not too long ago a supply teacher in a Yorkshire
school was stabbed by a student. He survived the attack whereas the teenager in
Scotland did not. However, do these recurring tragedies make us think or, like
so much shocking news that is beamed into our homes, are they news today and
forgotten tomorrow? It is easy to become hardened. Indeed, the words of Chief
Superintendent Watson suggest that possibility to be real. It is a way that such
professionals cope with the awful consequences of people’s actions, the mess
that they often have to ‘clear up’. For the rest of us, are we becoming
case-hardened and rather cynical?
The concern of every Christian is that we are becoming de-sensitized to
sin. We are beginning to accept things that we know to be wrong. Our conscience
tells us. The law may even confirm the fact, but, because having to face the penalty
of law-breaking is unlikely, we accept the situation. That is until something
as shocking as yesterday’s incident in a Scottish school makes us think. But
does the horror of such a crime taking place in what is perceived to be a safe
and caring environment cause us all to appraise our behaviour?
If we think that any of our actions, however seemingly trivial, go
unnoticed then we are deceiving ourselves. The law may not always bring us to
book but nothing escapes the eye of God and, ultimately, the Bible says, ‘be
sure your sin will find you out’.[1]
Equally, we may come to ‘see things differently’ and accept what we once
regarded as wrong. We may become hardened and not be shocked by things that
would once have scandalised the country. However, the Bible makes it clear that
God and His standards do not change and are not compromised: ‘For I am the
LORD, I change not’.[2]
One young man’s actions have blighted a family, a school, and a community.
Too often we all fail to think seriously about the consequences of our actions.
One day we will be called to account. We will stand before God and be called to
account for every aspect of our lives. I’m just glad that I will be able to
point to the Lord Jesus Christ and, through faith in Him, be able to say that
He bore my sin and guilt when He died on the cross of Calvary. What about you?
