How valuable is a human life? Obviously, that is something that varies greatly depending on the individual. Human value is in the eye of the human beholder. In the news this week, you might have seen a video clip of a mother who threw herself onto the hood of her own car that was being stolen. The courage of her efforts was not driven by her love for the car but by her love for her two children, who were being endangered by the thief. If only human life were that valuable to all.
Most of the stories we see covered in the news, however, paint a very different picture regarding human worth. There is no real need to speak of the individual atrocities that are expressed in many varied ways. We see them every day. The effects of such animal behavior, though, can be overwhelming when devalued human life becomes the norm.
We are so fortunate to know that God has the true view of human worth, which, at Christ’s return, will become the rediscovered normal for mankind. God looks to the heart and not the stature, intellect or race of any man or woman — He is not a respecter of persons. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s desire is that no one perish! That revives hope in the present (temporary) mental environment that we are living in.
For those who have come to repentance now, King David says this, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). This is what’s valuable in God’s eyes. That death represents a life lived well, as an overcomer, to the end of life. It is a life that now awaits Christ’s imminent return and the subsequent resurrection to eternal life.
For the repentant living presently, we know exactly what it is that makes us precious in God’s eyes. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We were bought with the priceless blood of Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God beyond human capability to repay. Because of that, our value in God’s eyes is precious as only He can define it!
Despite the present duress, the Apostle Paul defines what our present focus should be. “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13-14).
What is the value of human life? It is priceless when we see it from God’s intention and perspective.
Marshall Stiver
