What can I do for those who don’t seem to care?

Exodus 32; Proverbs 8; John 11; Ephesians 1

In our province, politicians are making choices to protect lives. Their decisions are not about winning votes but lowering the rate of new cases in this pandemic and doing all they can to help those affected in dozens of ways by ‘social distancing’ and self-quarantine. Food, financial help and encouragement are at the top of the list.

This was not the case in the last days of Jesus Christ on this earth. He had just raised Lazarus from the dead. Even though the country was not under a virus threat, this man’s resurrection should have had everyone, including the leaders, clapping their hands. But no, political power was more important to the religious leaders of His day:

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (John 11:47–53)

Some of today’s announcements about the pandemic seem more political than a concern for public safety. Those reports paint an ugly picture in which politicians appear more interested in gaining votes rather than protecting the lives of those they are supposed to serve. Their power appears so important that they hesitate to do anything that might make them unpopular in the eyes of voters, many of whom want to keep their personal freedoms and be unrestricted in doing whatever they choose.

I’m sad for those who cannot see beyond their own press releases, or beyond their own desires. Another case in point is the students who consider ‘spring break’ gives them an exception. A group party on the beach is more important than risking exposure to the virus or protecting the lives of others, including their own family and friends. This is entirely selfish.

After reading Ephesians 1, I can rejoice in all that it describes as my blessings in Christ yet feel somewhat selfish too. I have so much while so many have never experienced and of the incredible grace of Jesus Christ:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3–12)

Exodus describes how those who knew spiritual freedom had fallen into sin and how Moses interceded for them. He reminded God of His promise to Abraham that He would make of his offspring a great nation. That would not happen if He destroyed them in His wrath. Moses also offered to take their place and die for their sin. This attitude points to Christ who did die for our sins and who “lives forever to make intercession” for His people (Hebrews 7:25). It also suggests what I must do for those whose selfishness may destroy them and others around them.

APPLY: Intercessory prayer is challenging when it seems more appropriate to bang heads, but that is not what God did for me. He chose me to be His child before I was born, adopted me into His family, blesses me in every way with redemption, forgiveness, incredible promises and fantastic grace. I must pray that He will do the same for those whose choices are more about themselves than about loving others lest my choices be just as selfish as theirs.