•   Connecting the reality of God to Human Need     1 21, 2010

God is a lover of people.  Every single person on the planet matters to Him.  They are the apple of His eye, the focus of His attention.  It was that love that drove Him to leave the splendor of heaven and live on the planet of His creation for thirty-three years.  God is a lover of people.  He cares about every aspect of every life. 

But as we look around our world we sense there’s something seriously and fundamentally wrong.  For whatever reason there are people everywhere who find themselves seriously challenged physically, emotionally, financially, educationally, and vocationally. These needy…the poor and marginalized and hurting… are not just the useless surplus of humanity.  They are unique creations of God who matter to Him.

Could it be we’re lacking some vital information that could make all the difference?  Probably not.  There’s never been such an accumulation of knowledge in the history of the world.

Then maybe it’s because our scientific development is not up to par.  Yet scientific progress has been unprecedented over the last few decades.  But still, there is something definitely wrong. 

The truth is, much of the problem is buried deep within the human heart.  It’s not that we don’t know enough or lack scientific breakthroughs but that we live in a way that allows our material and intellectual pursuits to run our moral decisions.  In a world of need and injustice we find ourselves filled with self- interest, living from a narrow, self-serving orientation that is blind and deaf to the hurting humanity that surrounds us.  The fundamental problems in our world can never be eradicated through education and science alone.  It will only happen as there is a change in the human heart.  It will only happen as the heart of humanity is molded by the compassion of a loving God.  

The very essence of being a follower of Jesus Christ is not about information but about a heart change that works its way into every area of our lives.  It starts by being touched by the grace of God through the cross of Jesus Christ, resulting in the forgiveness of sin that is neither earned nor deserved.   And as that realization seeps into the very core of our being it has a profound affect on how we view those around us.  The compassionate heart of God takes on arms and legs in a world of need as we join with Jesus in His mission to redeem and restore a hurting humanity.