At least 73 people were killed Thursday night when a large truck plowed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France, the Nice prosecutor's office said, according to French media. The driver pointed his tractor-trailer into the crowd and accelerated, mowing bodies over. The driver was shot to death, authorities said.
Again, we mourn the death of so many innocent people: Women, children, fathers, mothers, grandparents and grandchildren.
Again, we have to report on senseless cruelty.
Again, we give voice to our heart and express a sincere and deep prayer to our Heavenly Father, asking to protect and console us with his mighty hand.
Again, we extend with love and empathy our condolences to the families of all victims.
This is the time to unite and stand up against all forms of hatred, violence and conflict. This is the time to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters, children of the same Father.
Pastor Ted Wilson, Adventist Church World President posted on his Facebook page following the recent tragic deaths in his own home country, the USA, and now these terrible deaths in France. He states, "Bizarre deaths and circumstances seem to be increasing in various regions of the world. Please pray for the families of loved ones who have died on both sides of the Atlantic." He adds, "Our sympathy goes to those who were simply celebrating a special day in France and have been traumatized by senseless deaths. Please pray for peace and stability around the globe."
It is both horrifying and sometimes desensitising for us to see such tragedies being reported from so many different places around the world. Sometimes, as committed Christians, we are frustrated that we can do little more than pray. As a result Wilson concludes, "Let us renew our relationship with the Lord every day so we can be ready to provide a witness for Him in whatever strange development may occur wherever we may live. The Lord wants to use His people to provide Christ-like behaviour and witness to the world so they can see what a changed life can do amidst such chaos and trauma. Let us stay strong in our faith and reliance on the Lord for our safety and our personal witness to others as we point people to the Prince of Peace and His soon Second Coming.
