“No child should have to look into the face of death. No parent should have to watch their child die. Children are dying every day from hunger and sickness. Children just like these are facing death every day, but with your support and just fifty cents a day we can save them.” The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, or UNICEF, runs these commercials to raise millions of dollars in support for relief efforts around the world. Usually, a famous celebrity will solemnly report this information to try and persuade you of the great need to donate to the cause. While I do not deny that there is a need, I do wonder what we would see if this was in a spiritual context.
Jesus saw the multitudes of people and, “He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). Jesus saw a woman by a well. When she declared that she waited for the Messiah, He said, “I who speak to you am He” (John 4:25-26). Jesus saw a man up in a tree. When Zacchaeus confessed his sin, Jesus responded, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9-10). It is obvious that Jesus is able to see into the minds and souls of people. He was able to see past the exterior and get to the hearts of those around Him. Even with the religious elite He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:27-28). They also needed to repent and serve God rather than men or their own self-righteousness.
If we were able to see as the Father sees, would our prayer be like that of Paul’s? “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1). Please consider this. The world around you is starving, but they don’t know it until it is too late. You hold in your hands and in your heart the very information they need. You know it to be as sweet as honey (Ezek. 3:3). Our job is to convince them of the need and the cure. Because of free will, not all will heed the call (2 Thess. 2:14). Those that do will glorify your Father in heaven.
Every child will have to look into the face of death (Heb. 9:27). The Father is not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Children are dying every day of a spiritual hunger and soul sickness. Children just like yours. He has done everything, what are we doing? If we would serve Him daily and sow the seed, He will save them.