When We Were Utterly Helpless

This morning, a seventeen-year-old man sits in prison. At the moment, it seems everyone in the world hates and despises him. This young man killed three fellow students, wounded two others, and caused indescribable pain to the victims' family members and friends. Why shouldn't the world hate him?

The world likes to point an accusing finger at the killer and blame him entirely. His principal, his teachers, and his fellow students all claim complete innocence: the young man, they say, was never bullied, over-looked, or rejected. And yet the young man chose to bring a gun to school to kill.

Even though the world may deny any blame, they are just as guilty as this young man. A murderer isn't born over night. Yes, God has deep compassion for the families and friends who lost their loved ones, but He also has deep compassion for this seventeen-year-old man who sits all alone, lost in a world without love or hope. I pray that, even now, someone will tell him about Jesus and His unconditional and undying love for him.

It's easy for someone to point a finger at the accused when they have come from a loving and supportive home, when they have never suffered the psychological pain and internal damages of abuse. The boy who became a murderer, on the other hand, was being raised by his grandparents: his parents had criminal records and emotional problems of their own, and were therefore unable to provide a stable, loving, and nurturing home for their son. He was a prime target for abuse at school. We must be very careful to teach our children to never intimidate, torment, antagonize, or demean another human soul, but to have love and compassion for all people.

God loves the sinners! He died for all! How can we hate someone whom God loves? Instead, let us show compassion for even the worst of criminals. This is the heart of God.

"When we were utterly helpless,

Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person,

though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)