The value of human life is at the core of many current issues in society: the right to own firearms for defense even as some use them for evil, the right to life for a fetus at any stage as opposed to a person with a birth certificate and the protection of civilians in times of war when the enemy blends right in. While all legitimate issues for government and society to sort out, we must consider what is that value and where does it come from?
Man was created in the image of God, and woman from man before the fall into sin. But what was then a perfect piece of art was tarnished and torn as we fell unsatisfied and desired to be like our Creator, only to our own detriment, knowing both good and evil but being unable to handle it like God. We let the temptation of the serpent and our own hearts be lifted up above the pedestal of God’s will and ways. We turned Creation from its holy perfection to a shattered image. Would you pay top dollar for the Mona Lisa missing her face or any Picasso piece blotched and missing great portions?
I had a 1999 Concorde for many years that’s as in constant need of repair (hit-and-run result pictured) and I was often pouring money into it for repairs. In fact, I paid far more for repairs than I paid for it in the beginning. The value of its repairs was worth more than the car itself ever was. Even when it was totaled, I continued to drive it instead of replacing it.
While the reason I kept driving that car for so many years without a passenger’s side mirror, working windows or air conditioning remains a mystery and had no good reason, God kept His broken Creation with better reason. God preserved our rebellious and unfaithful race of man as He made us to have dominion over this planet He created for us and He made promises to our fathers to preserve our great nation Israel forever. But God, as the greatest steward, would not let his Creation continue forever in that same decaying state I left that car in on its way to the end. Rather, he paid the price needed for a full repair and renewal to keep his people “running” forever. That price was higher than what we were worth even when perfect, as we were always made to worship and adore Him. God the Father gave God the Son, our Savior, our God and our Lord, to die in human flesh that we may last forever, be reconnected to God and be restored to the perfect condition in which we were made to remain as we receive the Holy Spirit in the Word, the water of Holy Baptism and the Body and Blood of God Himself shed for us.
God so loved His people that He gave His only Son to cover our sin.