sanctity of life

The very first murder occurred between brothers, Cain and Abel.

God's sixth command to not murder seems almost irrelevant to most of us who are not inclined to such extreme behavior, but the Bible makes it clear that shedding of blood, taking of another life, is not the only "murder."

Apostle John tells us that hate is equivalent to murder:

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:12-15, emphasis added)

A person doesn't wake up one day and decide to murder another.

Murder begins as an attitude of the heart.

"Sow a thought and you reap an act. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you read a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny."

Hate, resentment, bitterness, anger... these are powerful emotions that can seem trivial at the onset, but can grow to shape our character.

We are created in the image of God according to Genesis 1:26-27. That signifies two things: ownership and value.

Human lives are sacred because we are made in the image of God. His seal of ownsership is on every human ever born. Our value and worth do not come from our achievements as the world dictates. Human lives are sacred because there was a price paid for it.

Just as we determine the value of something by what we are willing to pay, God was willing and did pay an incredible price of the life of His own Son to redeem us.

Our worth, therefore, is immeasurable.

From the wealthiest man in the world like Bill Gates to a bum on the street without a dollar in his pocket, we are equally valuable in the sight of God who sent His Son to redeem all.

So how do we prevent ourselves from hating or resenting someone who had hurt us in some way?

The first step is to take on a whole new perspective by seeing them as God sees them: valued in His eyes because He paid a high price for them.

We need to see another from God's perspective. That's the beginning.

We determine value not as the world determines, but as God determines.

--from Nakwon EM March 4 Sunday Worship Service