Not One
I have been an avid “Life Today” viewer. It is a program hosted by Rev. James Robison and his wife Betty. The hosts and the content of the program has encouraged and inspired me in my faith for many years. In most segments there is an opportunity to hear of and participate in a ministry targeting specific and desperate needs around the world. Inevitably you will be moved to compassion. You may also be prompted in your heart to give. You may be so anguished at the need you turn away or shut the television off altogether.
One particular episode highlighted the horrid crime of Human Trafficking, specifically the pervasive sex trade of young girls in the country of Thailand. I watched as a reporter walked the streets, filming and documenting real children, real parlors, lounges and store fronts. Children were either stolen or sold into slavery because the families were so poor. I could feel the heaviness of heartache in my chest as I watched, not wanting to watch, not wanting to know any more about it. I prayed with tears for these children. I grieved for all the children around the world who have been affected by sexual crimes of all kinds.
At the close of the segment, James gave an opportunity to give a certain amount to the ministry, Rescue Life, an outreach focusing on the victims of Human trafficking. $128.00 would save one child. $1,280.00 would save ten children. Upon reading the amounts I stood up out of my chair and yelled with passion and in tears, “Not one! Not one, God! Not one child should have to suffer this horror!” I shook my head, I cried, I angrily sought an answer as to why this is allowed to happen. My thoughts and prayers volleyed from begging God to send protectors to disbelief that a loving God would not act on behalf of these innocent victims.
In my despair I continued to just plead, “Not one”. In my spirit God responded using scripture. He reminded me, not one sheep, not one coin, not one wayward son was lost and not accounted for by its owner. (Luke 15:3-31) God used well known parables to remind me of this truth: God has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5-6)This truth stands, regardless of our circumstances. He reminded me that He has the heart of a Father. I was humbled and chastised in my unbelief and mistrust of my heavenly Father. As a father, God sacrificed everything; including His One own Son, to save us from a fallen world. How could I continue to accuse a God who sacrificed His One and Only Son so we wouldn’t have to go through the evils of this world alone. In all the world’s travesties we can be assured on this, God is a loving God and he is a just God. In His love, He sent us a Savior. (John 3:16) Godly Judgment will be executed upon all the evil that is against any of His beloved. In the end, all things will be made right. He is God and it can go no other way.
I passionately accused God of not doing enough when he had already done all that was needed.
. *Not one of us is meant to perish but to spend eternity with Him. It was God’s passion for us that ultimately sent His son to the cross. Belief in His son Jesus Christ reconciles us to a compassionate God. Our everlasting life will be void of all the evil that is so pervasive in our world today. God’s compassion for our fallen world came in the form of His son Jesus. Jesus tells his followers, “In this world you will have many troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world”. (John 16:33).He has overcome all that is bad and wrong. As the evil in the world attests, we are not sheltered from harm. As God’s beloved, we are enemies of those forces that are enemies of God. The Good news, the gem in all this turmoil, is the resurrected Jesus promises He is one with us.
I may not have enough money to save one little girl in Thailand, but I can send my Jesus, my sweet Jesus to tend to her care. He is mighty to save. I can humbly ask my loving, patient and kind heavenly Father to forgive my unbelief. I can continue to pray with all the passion that is within me knowing my prayers fall on the listening ears of a merciful and compassionate God.
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