SANCTITY

And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” – Genesis 4:10

Life is not cheap. Life is divine. In a generation that seems to have lost the sense of value of Life, the Virtue of SANCTITY must be revived and celebrated. Sanctity means “sacredness” – a state or quality of being sacred, significant, or valuable. The word ‘sanctity’ derives from the Latin root “sanctus” meaning “holy” or “sacred.” Sanctity of Life refers to ultimate importance and inviolability. The phrase occurs frequently in modern discussion, as humanity grapples with ethical concepts and technological breakthroughs in medicine and warfare. Few of the key debates border on issues of abortion, euthanasia, and genocide. Scripture treats all human life as a divine gift that should be cherished, valued and respected. No human being has the right to take the life of another: Unfortunately, early in creation, Cain took his brother Abel’s life, the voice of whose blood cried ceaselessly before God (Gen.4:10). I wonder how many of such voices are crying to God on earth today!

Given the pressures of humanism and cynicism, we as believers in Christ, must reaffirm our faith in the inviolate Truth of God’s Word, as pertaining to: the Sanctity of all human life, of the marital covenant, of children’s life, and of Old Age. All human life proceeds from God: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen.2:7). God “gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25b). All human life is precious to God, being created in His Image and likeness (Gen.1:27). Jesus illustrated the incalculable value of life as being “more than food…and clothing” (Mt.6:25-26). God cares about the comfort, protection, safety, and security of our lives: “When you build a new house then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring blood guiltiness on your house if anyone falls from it” (Dt.22:8). That’s how so much the Lord God cares for the safety of every human life.

Being made in the Image of Divinity, human life has an inherently sacred attribute that should be valued, protected, and respected at all times. While God gave humanity the authority to kill and eat other forms of life, the murdering of other human beings is expressly forbidden, with the penalty being death (Gen.9:3, 6). Life is sacred irrespective of the condition that a person is in: suffering, poverty, disease, deterioration, or dependency. Moreover, all lives are of equal value: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34b). All human life is deserving of protection against disease, violence, and war. Alas, we witness daily threats against the sanctity of life. Screaming news headlines and social media streams feature lines such as: Wife kills husband in his sleep; husband stabs wife over alleged infidelity; son shoots elderly parents; superstar commits suicide. Spouses murder for money; daughters abort at will, and sons destroy their parents for drugs.

In these scenarios of man’s inhumanity to man, God is calling us to elevate the Virtue of Sanctity, against the backdrops of escalating rates of abortion, divorce, violence, and suicides. Embryonic lives are terminated casually and routinely. The drug culture is spreading death and destruction at such a phenomenal speed. Genocide, ethnic cleansing, and religious terrorism pervade the nations. Political assassinations are rife; sponsored by both individuals and agents of states. Entire villages are ransacked and residents butchered, burnt, and buried in mass graves. Thousands of migrants waste away in the hot, scorching deserts; while the survivors drown in the Mediterranean, trying to cross over into greener pastures. Where then is humanity’s Hope in the midst of the hurts and pain? The LORD Jesus Christ has kept us here as “Salt of the earth” and “Light of the world” (Mt.5:13-16). You and I can be His commanding, vibrant and Victorious Voice to lift the Banner of Life and the Standard of Sanctity over the dark floods and depressive forces of death. We can do this by His Grace and Power!