All human life has value. To unlawfully take human life is one of the worst things one human does to another.
Indeed it is such a crime that it’s one of the first things God deals with after the flood – the consequence for the unlawful taking of a life.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
(Genesis 9:6 ESV)
Erasing the image of God from the earth is not something God takes lightly at all. Eradicating the brilliance of His reflection at whatever stage of existence is not something He shrugs off. It is messing around with a divine initiative, it spoils the heavenly mandate, it besmirches that which the Creator of the universe deemed to be His masterpiece. It’s a big deal.
This is something to bear in mind when it comes to how we interact with others, as mentioned elsewhere. Angry, aggressive, snide, derogatory and abusive behaviour can do much to taint and scar what God called good.
In as much as judicial procedures endeavour to put a price on things when it comes to compensating for the loss of life, there remains no price to match the unique imprint of the human being. No amount of money can begin to calculate the worth of a single human being, however much certain professions seek to do so.
Yet for one reason or another, we often complete that priceless aspect of the person with whom we engage. Caught up in our own self-importance we fail to respect, celebrate and honour the image of God in front of us.
We can return to that high value, though. We can catch a glimpse of the majesty of His creation. We can acknowledge that and proceed to enjoy what He has made even as He gives high regard for life.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 