You Can't Save them All

I can't recall how many times I have been told, "You can't save all of the orphans of the world," but I know it's been many times over the years. Usually it's accompanied with, "I don't want to sound discouraging," or "We understand what you want to do." I've never understood the point of telling me that and I've never had a great comeback either. Inside, I knew that no, they really didn't understand or they wouldn't make that statement, but I haven't had the words to say it nicely. So my response is usually a small smile followed by, "but it certainly matters to the one you save." I felt unfulfilled in expressing my passion for the orphan mandate in those moments.

I began thinking about Heavenly Father's heart and this is where I found what was missing. God never gave us the job title of life saver. Father simply said "Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless." How or in what way is between us and him. But I can't imagine him ever saying to us, "You better put a limit on how hard you care for the orphan- after all there are millions of them." Oh I just imagine how His heart hurts when he hears callous remarks towards his most precious. A father to the fatherless is the Lord in his holy indwelling.

What if we had a faith that believed for every orphan? What if we had radical and outrageous faith that every orphan would be cared for, protected and transformed? It is his word! In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 18:14

As I type I sit looking at the photo of a 17 year old boy next to my computer. The size of a toddler, he has laid in a mental institution since he was 4 because of epilepsy. Nothing but bones, he is given just enough food to not die. I can't say he's given enough food to live because he doesn't really live. He lays there moaning in pain and in all reality the chances he is still alive today is slim. I took his picture when I met him in 2006. I vowed to him that I would never forget him and so I have kept his picture next to my computer to remind me daily what the Lord has shown me- that I might be found faithful in my vow to him and to God. One day shortly after I put the photo up, Holden saw it and said, "Mom, I can't stand to see that boy, please take it down!" I understood that being a child, why he would feel that way, but I told him, "It's because we can't stand to look at him, that we need to keep it up." We tend to push these things out of our mind, but I don't want to. I don't ever want to become unmoved at the plight of the orphan. I pray our hearts break with unstoppable intercession that rattles the heavens. I pray that our pleadings would rain mercy and release chains!



On my watch, did a Moses perish in an asylum? Did an Esther die along the road? Did a David take his last breath alone in an orphanage?

"You can't save them all" is not an option. It's not permission to look away. You can't save them all is for people who have faith in self. My faith is in Jesus Christ who died for you and me. My Jesus reigns on the mercy seat and my Father speaks and makes life! GOD CAN SAVE THEM ALL!

Comments

Dana said…
The follow button was on your blog! So now I'm a follower! Your family is beautiful...as are you!
Marianne said…
Beautiful and convicting post!
Sarah said…
Thank you for this post! I've been following along since before Cephas and Lucia came home, now I'm glad I went back to the beginning of your blog!

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