The photo above is of a
sculpture I saw during a visit to the Polasek Museum in Winter
Park, Florida. The image is titled "Mother Crying Over The World" by
Albin Polasek. **
I was so struck by this image. It depicts my grieving heart in a tactical form when I think of children being abused.
For that reason, I didn't want to see the movie, Sound of Freedom. I stayed away because I know I could not bear to see a child abused on the big screen. But many of my friends encouraged me to go, and told me I wouldn't see anything like that. We
went to see the movie - and stayed to see the special message at
the end. I still had to close my eyes sometimes, and at times I didn't
read what was said in Spanish. I'm just like that - but when we got in
the car, I broke down crying. I knew about child and adult trafficking, but this
movie vividly portrayed it.
I agree with Yeshua - these evil people are beyond
rehabilitation - and they deserve death. These three disciples remember and recorded the message He spoke:
"Whoever
causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be
better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were
drowned in the depth of the sea." ~ Matthew 18:6 (NKJV)
"But
whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble,
it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and
he were thrown into the sea." ~ Mark 9:42 (NKJV)
"It
would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and
he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these
little ones."~ Luke 17:2 (NKJV)
I can hear someone out there saying, "Where's the love?" Why would Yeshua say something so harsh?
I've pondered this and prayed about this question. I believe it's because people can become so depraved that they are beyond hope. They have no conscience. No mercy. No empathy for others. Some even enjoy hurting others.
I've known some personally. I tried to love them and show them God's ways. They refused over and over again -- and became even more depraved. I've seen them die in that sin. I've watched them pass away without ever even feeling sorry...without ever asking forgiveness of the ones they abused. Without ever even wanting to make amends. Why? Because they were depraved.
This passage is very clear about how they become that way: Romas 1:18 - 32 Please read this out loud very slowly
18 What
is revealed is God’s anger from heaven against all the godlessness and
wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth;
19 because what is known about God is plain to them, since God has made it plain to them. 20 For
ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both
his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen,
because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they
have no excuse; 21 because,
although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank
him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and
their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they have become fools! 23 In
fact, they have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mere
images, like a mortal human being, or like birds, animals or reptiles!
24 This is why God has given them up to the vileness of their hearts’ lusts, to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies. 25 They
have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshipping and
serving created things, rather than the Creator — praised be he for
ever. Amen.
26 This is why God has given them up to degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural; 27 and
likewise the men, giving up natural relations with the opposite sex,
burn with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with
other men and receiving in their own persons the penalty appropriate to
their perversion. 28 In
other words, since they have not considered God worth knowing, God has
given them up to worthless ways of thinking; so that they do improper
things. 29 They
are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and vice; stuffed
with jealousy, murder, quarrelling, dishonesty and ill-will; they are
gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God; they are insolent, arrogant and boastful; they plan evil schemes; they disobey their parents; 31 they are brainless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. 32 They
know well enough God’s righteous decree that people who do such things
deserve to die; yet not only do they keep doing them, but they applaud
others who do the same."
Yeshua knew that some will reject Him and continue to live in their sin and continue to hurt others, so that's why He said they should just commit suicide in order to avoid hurting more people. Remember Judas?
In the days after I watched Sound of Freedom, I thought
about what we can do (in addition to what he said at the end).
(1)Support any local group that works to end trafficking and/or helps
those rescued from it.
(2) Keep our eyes open for indications of
trafficking around us and report them to the police.
(3) Push for laws
that give human traffickers the death penalty.
(4) Teach children how to deal with
strangers.
(5) Hold your little ones by the hand when out shopping.
(6)
Vote for Trump because I believe he will work to take
down the criminals in our country that are involved.
(7) Pray (probably should have put that one first). I have a dear friend who always says, "Pray...and put feet to your prayers!"
If you have more
ideas. Please tell me. And I do encourage everyone to see this movie
before it leaves your area.