'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' Psalms 139:13-14
It was tragic and shameful, that a Singaporean woman would abuse her domestic helper to point of killing the poor young woman. The perpetrator admitted to repeated beatings, torturing and starving of the maid, eventually causing death. It was a national embarrassment that such cruelty could be inflicted by one human being upon another in a civic society of Singapore. The irate Minister of Manpower exclaimed, "Let me be absolutely clear. There is no place for abuse against foreign domestic workers in Singapore."
Singaporeans are enraged. How could such cruelty exist in our modern, successful and orderly community? We are angry not only at the particular household but also at ourselves for breeding such behaviour.
Singaporeans are embarrassed. Where is the kindness towards another person? Did the poor girl not share in the very air that we breathe and the vibrancy of our community?
Singaporeans are ashamed. Did we not teach our children to value life? That every single life is sacrosanct and every single person, a child of God?
Now is the time for us to assess how much we value life. How much do we believe that every human being is created by God?
If Christians believe in the dignity of life and the intrinsic value of every person, we should defend this position rigorously. We are stewards of the life God has given and we are to uphold its sanctity from conception to the grave.
God values Life. King David understood this, when wrote the Psalm 139.
- God made us. You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13,14
- God knows us. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3
- God pursues us. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7-8
- God guides us. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139: 9,10
- God sanctifies us. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24
David did not only write this about himself, he knew that this is God's design for every person. A song by John W. Petersen, 'In the Image of God' can help us appreciate this.
In the Image of God
We were made long ago
With a purpose divine
Here His glory to show
But we failed Him one day
And like sheep went astray
Thinking not of the cost
We His likeness had lost
But from eternity God had in mind,
The work of Calvary
The lost to find
From His heaven so broad
Christ came down earth to trod
So that men might live again
In the image of God.
Now that I have believed
And the Saviour received
Now that I from the cry
Of my guilt am relieved
I will live for the Lord
Not for gain nor reward
But for love, thinking of
What His grace has restored!
I’ll never comprehend redemption’s plan
How Christ could condescend
To die for man
Such a Saviour I’ll praise
To the end of my days,
As I upward, onward trod,
In the image Of God
What is the value of Life? It is not to be measured in wealth, success, age even health. In a hedonistic society we only value ourselves. In a caring and kind society, the weakest among us will be respected. Addressing the recent concern and disgust felt by Singaporeans, years ago Joni Eareckson Tada advised
'If you truly believe in the value of life, you care about all of the weakest and most vulnerable in society.'
Lionel
