"Who Was That Masked Man?"

With the tragic shootings in Arizona last month numerous discussions have been had about the motive of revenge. I began to think about that a bit and remembered the following humorous story illustrating the all too common desire to “get even.”

A despondent woman was walking along the beach when she saw a bottle on the sand. She picked it up and pulled out the cork. Whoosh! A big puff of smoke appeared. “You have released me from my prison,” the genie told her. “To show my thanks, I grant you three wishes. But take care, for with each wish, your mate will receive double of whatever you request.” “Why?” the woman asked. “That bum left me for another woman.” “That is how it is written,” replied the genie. The woman shrugged and then asked for a million dollars. There was a flash of light, and a million dollars appeared at her feet. At the same instant, in a far-off place, her wayward husband looked down to see twice that amount at his feet. “And your second wish?” “Genie, I want the world’s most expensive diamond necklace.” Another flash of light and the woman was holding the precious treasure. And, in that distant place, her husband was looking for a gem broker to buy his latest bonanza. “Genie, is it really true that my husband has two million dollars and more jewels than I do, and that he gets double of whatever I wish for?” The genie said it was indeed true. “Okay, genie, I’m ready for my last wish,” the woman said. “Scare me half to death.”

This week, in 1933, the first episode of “The Lone Ranger” aired all over our nation’s radios. While I am not old enough to remember those first years, I do remember gathering around the radio as a young boy and listening to the exploits of the masked man and his faithful companion, Tonto. Even to this day when I hear the William Tell Overture, I am taken back to the days of my childhood. When television came to our house, Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels were weekly heroes as they fought for justice in the old west. Did you know that there were nearly 3,000 different episodes of “The Lone Ranger”? In each of these shows he and Tonto righted all the wrongs and taught villains that greed and prejudice will fall before justice in the end. The good guy always won! The wonderful truth is that the good guys really do always win! Listen to the promise of Scripture:

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalms 11:4-7 NIV).

Let me make two important observations this morning. First, we do not fight our battles alone. Even when it seems we are being forgotten and that somehow the war is bring lost, God has not abdicated His right of divine ownership. He will not leave us alone to face defeat. He will make it right in the end. Second, we need not seek revenge from those who have sought to hurt us. God will settle all accounts and right every wrong. He is our “masked man”! Like David who wrote the above psalm, can you trust in Him today? He does love justice and will see to it that it will roll down like the great waters of the earth’s mightiest waterfalls. He does extend mercy and grace, but those who refuse Him and seek to harm His children will face His wrath and punishment. Leave them in His hands today. Walk in the knowledge that you are not responsible for handing them their judgment. That will bring you real freedom.