There was a one in 400 trillion chance for you to be born.
Without getting into the health-class specifics of it all, it is an absolute miracle that this version of you—with your traits, your attributes, your predispositions—made it to where you are now. We can look at that, feel absolutely on top of the world, and it can make us feel like we can use the exact gifts we have to do good things in our lives. It makes me grateful that of all the creatures in creation, I am a human with a brain and opposable thumbs, and was born into a culture and nation with inherent freedoms.
And then, as you take all that in, thousands of people die from wildfires each year in the United States. The smoke alone contributes to at least 40,000 deaths a year. Hurricanes continue to ravage multiple communities throughout the world, with danger to both life and property. I’m not mentioning these facts as a part of an illustration—please pray for the people affected by these things, for healing and safety, and for peace amidst such unimaginable tragedies.
We are incredibly powerful in the world as humans, and at the same time, utterly helpless.
The book of Hebrews, after starting with a bang talking about the divinity of Jesus, goes on to talk about how humans have been put in this position in the cosmos to be “just a little below angels.” Hebrews continues, quoting OT sources: “You crowned (humans) with glory and honor and put everything under their feet. In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present, we do not see everything subject to them” (Hebrews 2:7-8).
God has given us a major gift, and it might not make any sense to us. Despite all of the blessings the human race has, it’s news to none of us that we constantly choose the wrong thing, hurt ourselves and each other, and do all of the things we wish we wouldn’t.
And yet:
“So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly, I will sing your praises.’”
Regardless of where you find yourself today—celebrating your unique privilege of living in the world, or numb and heartbroken over the shattered nature of the world—Jesus calls you family. The animating force of the universe died for you so you could live. Chances are, you’re somewhere in the middle of the extremes.
Reflection:
- How does the truth that Jesus died for you so you could live meet you today?
- How can you take time to remember that fundamental truth?
- How can you set aside some time to orient yourself around it? I think we’ll all be better for it.