WHEN JESUS CHRIST HUNG DYING ON THE CROSS, HE PRAYED FOR HIS TORMENTORS, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING." What they were doing, of course, was executing the Son of the Ruler of the Universe. Did they fully understand the gravity of the act they were carrying out? No. They were executing the Son of the Judge before Whom each of them were to stand after their death.
Our personal judgement
Each of us will stand before God after our own demise, in order to answer to Him for our deeds, our misdeeds, and our failure to act when action on our part was necessary. Jesus has clearly told us the criteria upon which our judgement will be carried out: "Then the King will say to those on His Right, "Come, you who are blessed by My Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Jesus foretold that the righteous will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and and go to visit you?" Then the King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatsoever you did to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did unto me."
Then He will say to those who did not do these kind deeds, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."
They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatsoever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." [Matthew 25:31-46].
Jesus identifies with all humanity
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages, what message may we draw from Christ's words? As many die and come before the Throne of God at this time, it is valuable to keep in mind the criteria Jesus has clearly laid down for us in order to determine where our eternal destiny will be spent. How may we ensure that we follow the Master's directive for a life which will be worthy of heaven?
- whatever we do to anyone is as grave an action as if it were done to Jesus Christ Himself. That is how closely the Son of God identifies Himself with all humanity
- we will be judged on our kindness, empathy, respect and good deeds towards others
- lack of respect for others and their property is unworthy of the innate nobility which should be the hallmark of humanity
Abortion is murder
The lives of innocent unborn should be respected. The true Ruler of the Universe, Almighty God, has commanded "Thou shalt not kill." [Exodus 20:13]. This commandment entails that we should respect the lives of others, inclusive of the innocent unborn.
Indeed, this makes perfect sense. As so many of our contemporaries are losing their lives due to the pandemic, it makes no sense to murder more. Due to the coronavirus, society as we know it has been altered. We will need all the precious souls God sends to us as we face pandemic-consequences.
ABORTION IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE
ABORTION IS MURDER!
