The Struggle for Life in a Culture of Death
A dear local brother of ours lost his son a few weeks ago. He was his only son, and he was only 18 months old. This family was often in our home, we held this little boy in our arms, he played with our girls. Our friend was beginning to read the Bible with him every night and was excited to teach his son the things he himself was learning. This little boy had barely learned to talk and was only beginning to make sense of the vast world around him. He was everything to his mother, a source of pride and joy to his father. And now he is gone. And our hearts ache within us for this mother and father who have lost their child, their only son.
And we grieve.
We grieve because this world is full of sickness and pain and death. We grieve because this isn’t how it was meant to be, this isn’t what we were created for. And we grieve because we long for life, true life, life everlasting. And yet here we are, struggling to survive in a culture of death.
When this little boy died, his body was immediately burned and discarded. There was no funeral, no burial, no urn of ashes. He was simply gone. This is a government regulation, not an individual choice made by a mother and father. When a child under the age of 18 dies in our country, there is no celebration of life, no remembrance, nothing. The child is simply gone, almost as if he never existed.
Except he did exist. And he was loved. By his mother and father, by the God who created him and fashioned him in his mother's womb. The God who loves him even now.
When my husband visited the hospital where this boy struggled to live, he was met by an onslaught of people waging war against life itself. At one point in his illness, the boy had lost oxygen and it was uncertain how much damage had been done to his brain. Family members, friends, and doctors advised his parents that it would be better if the child did not live because of his quality of life. It would be better if he was dead. And the parents were still young. They could have another child. A perfect child.
These are the words of the Devil himself. But his voice is very loud here.
We live in a country where babies are aborted almost flippantly, a country where children are abandoned for deformity or gender. Even in the case of this little boy’s death, there was little acknowledgement of the life that lived and breathed for 18 months. The body was simply discarded as if the soul itself was worth nothing.
Life is precious. Humanity is precious. We bear the mark of the Almighty God, made in His image, created to know Him, love Him, worship Him. Yet here, in this culture and in so many other places around the world, it’s as if a human life is not valued unless it is deemed worthy. Life is not seen as precious unless it can contribute to society. Being made in the image of God means nothing. Being judged as worthy in the eyes of one’s culture is everything.
We are grieving the tragic death of this little boy. We are grieving that death continues to reign on this earth, that there is much pain and suffering to be endured. And we grieve that the Devil’s voice and tactics are loud and clear, waging war against an image-bearing humanity. Because in the end, this is a gospel issue. Not a culture issue or a government issue. A gospel issue. Laws and cultural shifts will not change the heart of man. This is the work of God alone. Life will only be valued when God is valued above all else.
There is good news to be told, to be heard, to be believed and treasured. The God who created the heavens and the earth is making a people for Himself. He sent His own Son to the cross, dying in our place, that those who put their trust in Him might have life. Life everlasting. Yes, we live in a fallen and cursed world. And yes, the Devil is waging war. But Christ has defeated death, and the battle has already been won.
And so we grieve. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Because there is a day that is coming when God will dwell with His people, and “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” There is a day that is coming when He will make all things new.
Come, Lord Jesus.
And we grieve.
We grieve because this world is full of sickness and pain and death. We grieve because this isn’t how it was meant to be, this isn’t what we were created for. And we grieve because we long for life, true life, life everlasting. And yet here we are, struggling to survive in a culture of death.
When this little boy died, his body was immediately burned and discarded. There was no funeral, no burial, no urn of ashes. He was simply gone. This is a government regulation, not an individual choice made by a mother and father. When a child under the age of 18 dies in our country, there is no celebration of life, no remembrance, nothing. The child is simply gone, almost as if he never existed.
Except he did exist. And he was loved. By his mother and father, by the God who created him and fashioned him in his mother's womb. The God who loves him even now.
When my husband visited the hospital where this boy struggled to live, he was met by an onslaught of people waging war against life itself. At one point in his illness, the boy had lost oxygen and it was uncertain how much damage had been done to his brain. Family members, friends, and doctors advised his parents that it would be better if the child did not live because of his quality of life. It would be better if he was dead. And the parents were still young. They could have another child. A perfect child.
These are the words of the Devil himself. But his voice is very loud here.
We live in a country where babies are aborted almost flippantly, a country where children are abandoned for deformity or gender. Even in the case of this little boy’s death, there was little acknowledgement of the life that lived and breathed for 18 months. The body was simply discarded as if the soul itself was worth nothing.
Life is precious. Humanity is precious. We bear the mark of the Almighty God, made in His image, created to know Him, love Him, worship Him. Yet here, in this culture and in so many other places around the world, it’s as if a human life is not valued unless it is deemed worthy. Life is not seen as precious unless it can contribute to society. Being made in the image of God means nothing. Being judged as worthy in the eyes of one’s culture is everything.
We are grieving the tragic death of this little boy. We are grieving that death continues to reign on this earth, that there is much pain and suffering to be endured. And we grieve that the Devil’s voice and tactics are loud and clear, waging war against an image-bearing humanity. Because in the end, this is a gospel issue. Not a culture issue or a government issue. A gospel issue. Laws and cultural shifts will not change the heart of man. This is the work of God alone. Life will only be valued when God is valued above all else.
There is good news to be told, to be heard, to be believed and treasured. The God who created the heavens and the earth is making a people for Himself. He sent His own Son to the cross, dying in our place, that those who put their trust in Him might have life. Life everlasting. Yes, we live in a fallen and cursed world. And yes, the Devil is waging war. But Christ has defeated death, and the battle has already been won.
And so we grieve. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Because there is a day that is coming when God will dwell with His people, and “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” There is a day that is coming when He will make all things new.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Beautifully said, Sister. So devastating. I am thankful you are there to walk with this brother and sister! (Bethany M)
ReplyDelete