What Is the Value of a Human Life?

What is the value of a human life? In the field of medicine, a life is so valuable that we will spend thousands of dollars to treat an illness, conquer a disease, or provide normalcy for someone with a disability. In the field of business, hundreds of dollars are spent to train an individual with needed skills to fill a company vacancy. In the field of sports, a team will often sacrifice the future by trading high draft choices to obtain a player that will provide instant help for a struggling team.

Yesterday we learned the value of one soldier's life in Israel. After spending more than five years in captivity in the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, Gilad Shalit was exchanged for 1,027 Palestinian terrorists, murderers, and men convicted of other crimes within Israel. The nation of Israel has as part of its ethical philosophy that they will leave no soldier behind. So one soldier's life was valued at over one thousand lives of others. Was everyone in Israel rejoicing in this prisoner exchange? To quote from the family whose 15-year old daughter had been stabbed in the heart by one of those Palestinians released yesterday, "We feel like our daughter has been murdered all over again." The question being asked among many Israelis is this: How much more Jewish blood will be spilt by those who have been set free? We know that during their incarceration in Israeli prisons, these men did not have pangs of conscience that told them to change their ways. Many , if not most of them, will quickly be persuaded to return to their terrorist and murderous ways. One of the military leaders of Hamas has gone on record to state that Hamas will attempt even more kidnappings of Israeli soldiers until all Palestinian prisoners have been set free with future prisoner exchanges.

What is the value of a human life? Let's ask God that question. And what is His response? "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Now that is an incredible statement affirming human value. God loved us enough that He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to die for us. Now here is the amazing thing: Gilad Shalit had been a loyal soldier in the IDF before his capture - perhaps we could say that he was worthy to be redeemed. But, you and I were enemies of God. The Apostle Paul proclaims that we were strangers and aliens from Him (Colossians 1:21). There was nothing worthy about us at all. And yet God still redeemed us with the life of His Son. This is one of those biblical truths that defies our comprehension. But praise God it is true!

What is the value of a human life? It is worth the life of God's Son! That fact alone should give meaning and purpose to all of life. I truly am special because of what God did for me there on the cross. And, as an old preacher once said, "Jesus Christ would have come and died for you if you had been the only person on the face of the earth." Think about that truth for a moment or two!

From my heart I echo these words from the pen of Charles Wesley: "Amazing love! How can it be! That Thou my God shoulds't die for me?" Gilad Shalit is free today because the Israeli government released 1,027 prisoners in exchange for his life. I am free today because God willingly sacrificed His Son on a cross in exchange of my life. Have you experienced that freedom today? Have you discovered the value of your life?