All Lives Matter

This weekend I spent some time at the African American Museum (my first time visiting) and it was phenomenal. I only viewed three floors (the history floors) and not everything on them but the thing that was clear and evident was the strength and courage of the Africans and African Americans who came before me. It’s only due to their commitment and passion for freedom that I can sit here writing this blog. They paved the way for me to even have the opportunity to be successful by human standards. 

Along the way through the history floors, I got angry at certain sections where Black people were mistreated, abused, and thought of as nothing more than property and then I realized I was able to stand in that area. I was proud of who we are and who many of us are becoming. Are there some who are wasting their lives away and an embarrassment to me and my ancestors? Of course. I don’t think our ancestors suffered and died so some could be “free” to squander their God-given talents and abilities. We can be so much more than that but we have to make a choice to be and to do the work. But that’s a story for another day. 

As I walked along the wall and saw the names of all the slave ships that brought Africans to America, the Caribbean, Europe, etc., and all the lives that were lost per ship during the Middle Passage, I could only think of all the dreams and accomplishments that were lost due to greed and ego and desire for power. It was evidence of the truth that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10).  It was also clear the people who perpetrated the atrocities didn’t know Jesus in their hearts. The Bible says a tree is known by its fruit (Matt 7:16-20), so if the fruit is evil or bitter, so is the tree. Only an evil or bitter or greedy person could believe the violence and terror aimed at the slaves was okay. 

At the end of the day, all lives matter. Meaning no lives matter more than others – Black lives matter just as much as all the others. Everyone has something to contribute – some smaller than others. None of us deserve more than others – we all deserve death, but Jesus. God has given us talents and gifts (Rom 16:6) for His glory and He’s provided what we need to gain wealth (Deut 8:18), but it is up to us to live up to the potential He has placed in us. That pesky free will allows us to choose. 

When we realize all lives matter, we realize we all miss out when lives are lost or dreams die.  It also helps us to realize that we have a responsibility to support equality and fair treatment – what people do with it is up to them.  But as bringers of peace and the Good News – accessibility to the Prince of Peace is for everyone, if they choose and it’s our responsibility to be about our Father’s business pointing them to Him because all lives matter. He wants none to be lost (2 Pet 3:9), but He won’t push Himself on anyone. Your life matters! What will you choose to do with it?