It was such a lovely weekend. About twenty-five of us gathered in what can only be described as a log mansion. The oversized stone fireplaces surrounded by the coziest of furniture on every level disqualified it from being a mere cabin. Built long ago as a luxurious hunting lodge, it now serves as the retirement home and extended family gathering space of a godly married couple. Located on a gorgeous northern Vermont hillside, every window offered a breathtaking view of the the large lake down below, bordered by the rusty-colored foliage so familiar to New England in late autumn.

Truly lovely.

The purpose of the gathering made it even more delightful: To Retreat. To take a break from busy lives in order to  worship the Lord and learn from His Word together as women. Specifically, we focused on blooming where we’ve been planted, which is sometimes also known as living in exile.

Living in exile, because as Paul proclaimed in his letter to the Philippians, our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior. (3:20)

And waiting means abiding.

Observing, adhering, remaining, persisting…in Him who has not yet arrived to re-establish our real home.

Though my mind and body were a little weary from the wonderful weekend, my spirit was soaring as I made the three hour journey home down winding mountain roads and through picturesque ski towns. I sang Matt Maher’s “Christ is Risen” on repeat.

And that’s when I got the text message from my sister. Breaking news: Up to 16 shot at Texas church.

“I knew it was just a matter of time,” was my jaded reply.

In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but during a worship several Sundays ago, I had convinced myself that there was a gunman in our midst. I could barely pay attention to the service, my mind racing with contingency plans, death tolls. I prayed against any evil schemes. I don’t want my own struggle with fear to exacerbate anyone else’s, but surely I’m not alone in these culture induced concerns.

Matt Maher’s song and lyrics were the perfectly timed background music for the devastating news.

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

Oh, the sting of death is felt acutely today. The victory of hell seems all too near this afternoon. But as Owen Strachan wrote today: Evil has an expiration date.

As I sang about God’s ultimate and forthcoming defeat of all darkness, and as I prayed for Him to be near to those suffering in Sutherland Springs, TX (so very close to my hometown of San Antonio), another song and artist came to mind. Truly, a blast from my high school and college days past: Twila Paris. A few clicks later, she helped me cry out for the hastening of that defeat.

There is no hope for a world that denies you
Firmly believing a lie
Hiding their hearts while their minds analyze you,
Cleverly choosing to die

Maker of all, we kneel interceding
Fighting for your will
Father of light
Your children are pleading still

Prince of Peace, come and reign
Set Your feet on the mountaintop again
Take Your throne, Rightful Lord
Prince of Peace, come and reign forevermore

I had just spent an entire weekend teaching the why’s and how’s of living in exile, of abiding in Christ as strangers and aliens in this broken world, of dwelling in this dark land and cultivating faithfulness. If it had still been theoretical for any of us that morning, surely we were convinced as we drove home and faced the evening headlines. What more will it take? Twenty-six of our own had been slain while we gathered safely tucked away in a mountain lodge. Twenty more wounded. Almost an entire church wiped out by its crouching enemy.

And then I thought of what those believers were doing as their lives were taken.

Abiding.

Observing, adhering, remaining, persisting.

Dwelling diligently. Gathering faithfully. Attaching themselves to the Vine.

Standing in the light. Acknowledging God’s glory and defeat of the night.

It reminds me of a verse we looked at in my women’s small group last week:

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Those gathered worshipers feared the only One who has real power.

I like the way the Phillips translation puts it:

Never be afraid of those who can kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul! Far better to stand in awe of the one who has the power to destroy body and soul in the fires of destruction!

That’s right. Powerless to kill the soul.

Because Jesus trampled death by death.

Yes, Prince of Peace, come and reign. Please come and take your rightful throne. Hurry and set your feet on the mountaintop again.

In the meantime, help us abide. Even if it means facing fears and fatal wounds as we do.