Easter is often a time spent
reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the miraculous
Resurrection three days later from the empty tomb (Luke 24:1-8).
Sent into this world to be the
savior for all mankind, Jesus was crucified following the incessant demands of
the Jewish leaders (Mark 15:13-14) at the washed hands of the Roman
Procurator, Pontius Pilate.
As Jesus was on hanging on the
cross, there were two men hanging with him (Luke 23:32-34). We know from Roman history that
the penalty of crucifixion was for the worst of criminals, therefore we can
infer the two men hanging next to him were as such. Continuing in Luke's
Gospel, as one man hurls insults at Jesus (v. 39) the other asks to walk in the eternal
Kingdom with Him (v. 42). The remarkable thing is that Jesus' love
for mankind was so strong that His immediate response was not not deep thought
or rebuke, rather it was simply "Truly I tell you, today you will be with
me in Paradise" (v. 43).
Following a surgery to remove a
cancerous tumor in his pelvic region in Havana, Cuba, Hugo Chavez, the
57-year-old socialist president of Venezuela, is now crying out to God to save
his life and have mercy upon him.
In a recent story from The Telegraph, Chavez is quoted as saying,
"Give me your crown, Jesus. Give me your cross, your thorns so that I may
bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these
people. Do not take me yet."
Which brings us to this
all-important question: Why turn to God, now?
Chavez is also quoted as saying,
"Today, I have more faith than yesterday."
Well, apparently he must! "Yesterday"
his faith appeared to be in the hands of communist Cuba with its
state-of-the-art medical stations and hospitals on nearly every street corner;
or so it was portrayed in leftist Michael Moore's epic failure, I mean fable, SiCKO.
As confessed Christians seeking
after Jesus, despite our differences in theological perspectives, we should all
strive to live the life as the man Christ himself lived. His teachings, overall
ministry and life were the perfect example of loving and forgiving others.
So why is it difficult to see a man
like Hugo Chavez weep and cry for mercy from God? Why do we cast condemnation
upon a man with the little knowledge of his life given us from various news and
media outlets? I have yet to travel to Venezuela; sip native coffee and speak
to him on matters of theology, human rights or politics. Why do we find it
almost comical to see someone pleading for their life as if to say, "Well,
your chickens are finally comin' home to roost!"?
Perhaps I'm speaking only for myself.
I want to truly believe that a man like Chavez is earnestly seeking the higher
power in the Father; however, if his life were spared for a brief moment, what
will his response be? Should we allow ourselves to even give such a thought?
On Calvary, according to the Gospel
writers, Jesus didn't cast even the slightest qualifier as to the mercy He was
about to impart. He simply heard the confession and it was as He said. Do we
pray for Chavez in this matter, or do we laugh? Do we mourn for his suffering,
or do we condemn with Scripture by saying, "A man reaps what he sows?"
Furthermore, what about us,
Christians? While we might be quick to judge or react to the actions of Chavez,
is God first in our lives; always? Are we first to turn to the Holy Spirit,
always, for intercession and healing, or does He ever come in second place?
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