“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And He placed His hands on them and blessed them before He left.” (Matthew 19:14-15 NLT)
There’s something about children that softens our heart and lowers our defenses. We naturally want to hold them, love them, and protect them, which is natural because we inherit those instincts from our heavenly Father. Perhaps that’s why it breaks our heart and challenges our senses to realize, not only how children have suffered over the ages, but how they are suffering in the day in which we now live.
Children have become objects to be used rather than precious ones to be loved and cherished. There are parts of the world where the life expectancy of adults is low, yet they continue to have many children who become orphans. Even in more progressive societies, children are often orphaned or abandoned for reasons that are beyond their control.
What’s my point? Children are designed by God to be cared for and when they aren’t they suffer. What am I saying? We want to blame God for the plight of children, but in some respects it’s like blaming the forest for the trees. The forest wouldn’t exist without trees, like humanity wouldn’t exist without children, but children can’t care for themselves. They demand care, but when care isn’t available to be given, children die and or must do what they can to make a way for themselves.
They become vulnerable and easy targets for those who want to violate and use them for their own gain. Could God step in and stop them? Of course, and the truth is, He has taken measures to assure their safety and security, but the system breaks down.
It begins with parents and families of origin, but when we don’t do our job, we want the government to step up and do what we weren’t willing or able to do ourselves. But the government is stretched too thin and too many children fall through the proverbial “cracks,” and/or those given responsibility for their care take it upon themselves to violate the children or use their influence to allow those who shouldn’t, to have access to the kids.
Factor in those whose whole orientation is evil and whose only aim is to use children for their benefit and pleasure, and you have a world on fire with evil whose days are quickly coming to an end.
So, is God at fault for all of this? Some would argue He is because He gives us free will and He “allows” us to behave like idiots. But what’s the alternative? To be robots or animals? I choose to believe the reason children and anyone else suffers is due to the sin and negligence of man, not the negligence of God. Could God do something about it? Of course!
He flooded the earth and started over, but we didn’t get better, we got worse. So, what do you think He’s going to do this time? He’s using fire and there won’t be any survivors except those who specifically choose to be His friends and followers. And we will be made perfect so nothing evil will ever take place on the new earth again. But that’s not the end of the story.
The care of the suffering has been entrusted to each of us, as we care for those in our spheres of influence. To the extent we become the hands and feet of Jesus, to that extent the needs of the world will be addressed. And because things haven’t gotten any better, it only points to our lack of response to the clear directives of God, not the negligence of God.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 