What is the real value of a single life?

President Bush has presented the nation’s highest military honor to the family of a Navy Seal killed in the line of duty. Lieutenant Michael Murphy lost his life while serving his country in Afghanistan in 2005. The family of the 29-year old hero was given the highly prized Medal of Honor, just the third such award given out since the official start of the war on terror.

While commanding a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines, Murphy’s team was betrayed by local goat herders who gave away their secret location. Soon after that, the team was hopelessly pinned down by a heavy coordinated assault from nearly 100 insurgents. Although wounded himself, Lt. Murphy moved out from behind cover while attempting to gain a clear radio signal for a desperate rescue call. Despite being shot several more times in the back, he somehow completed the call and even rejoined the battle. When the dust settled and the incident was over, just one man of the Seal team would survive. The event became the worst single day of casualties for Naval Special Warfare since World War II after a Chinook helicopter, carrying 16 soldiers for the rescue mission, was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The ‘heat of battle’ tends to bring out either man’s very best, or sometimes his absolute worst. And many wonder how they might react when faced with an event like this or like the one on 9-11 where selfless men and women gave their lives to take control of an aircraft while trying to save people they never knew nor would ever get the opportunity to do so.

The Bible speaks of the “Son of Man”, Jesus Christ, who voluntarily, lovingly, and single-handedly faced the fury of hell itself to redeem a race who had fully rejected Him. These truths are clearly presented in the book of Romans. In chapter 3 verses 10-11, the Apostle Paul writes, “As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.”Then God’s overwhelming and overpowering love for a helpless and hopeless race is seen just 2 chapters later in Romans 5:6-8. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners , Christ died for us.”

Just one survived that brutal attack back in 2005. And there are some in the media still questioning whether or not it was worth the great sacrifice. But those who do not understand the value of a single soul also do not know the heart or motives of their own Creator. Matthew 18 makes that abundantly clear beginning in verse 11. “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

God has made clear through both His words and actions the real value of a single life in John 15:13. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” And all those who know and love Him will recognize their precious opportunities to serve Him by at least their willingness do likewise.

Bill Breckenridge