In Exodus, chapter twenty, verse thirteen, we read:
Thou shalt not kill.
This seems like a very cut and dried commandment. There’s not a lot to be questioned there. But why is it, then, that this commandment is broken countless times every day in this world of ours?
People kill for many different reasons. Sometimes it’s out of fear, anger, or the need for revenge. Other times, it’s out of greed or the fear of being caught. There are those who are evil who love to kill for the sake of killing itself, for the feeling of power it gives them. Regardless of the initial reason, I believe murder boils down to one thing–selfishness. Murder is selfishness taken to its most extreme.
When we murder, we are blatantly flying in the face of the precious gift of life God gave us. Our lives are incredibly valuable. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor we are, the very fact that we are alive and have bodies makes is wealthier than the richest king. By taking away that gift from someone else, we are making a mock of God. We are ridiculing the plan of salvation, which hinges upon our getting an earthly body. We are taking power onto ourselves in controlling life and death which power belongs only to God. It’s true that many people who have committed murder don’t believe in God and thereby don’t believe that they are offending God with their actions, but just because you don’t believe it, doesn’t make it true. Whether or not you know God exists is irrelevant. You have offended Him, greatly, and someday you will understand the consequences of that.
There are those who have killed accidentally or in self-defense. Of course there are provisions made for situations such as these. But when a person deliberately takes another life, they have violated this crucially important commandment. This is also true for those who commit suicide. Provisions are made in these cases as well for those who were severely emotionally traumatized and saw suicide as their only way out. God is the judge and He alone can say the state of the mind and heart when the death occurred. But God does not take the forced loss of life lightly.
If only each person in the world could come to an understanding of this. Imagine for just a minute that there was no more murder. Wouldn’t that be incredible? It would, but I’m afraid, impossible at this time. So I’ll keep looking forward to the millennium, when at last we shall live in peace.
Related Blogs: