I've been thinking a lot about insulation lately. No, we are not working on a home improvement project and I don't work at Menards. But in wracking my brains over why there is such an orphan crisis, HIV crisis, food crisis, homeless crisis, I've realized that it's an insulation problem.
Just what do I mean by that?
First, what does it mean to insulate?
Dictionary.com says:
Insulate
1. to prevent or reduce the transmission of electricity, heat, or sound to or from (a body, device, or region) by surrounding with a nonconducting material
2. to isolate or detach
this site goes on to give Word Origin & History
insulate
1538, "make into an island," from L. insulatus (see insular). Sense of "cause a person or thing to be detached from surroundings" is from 1785. Electrical/chemical sense of "block from electricity or heat" is from 1742. Insulation "insulating material" is from 1870.
I found this fascinating. It spoke exactly to what I think is the problem. Lets start with the second definition first. To isolate or detach:
It is estimated that there is a new HIV infected person every 5 seconds. Therefore we are looking at about 17,280 people daily contracting the virus.
16,000 people a day die from starvation in the world. That is over 6,000,000 per year on this planet.
There are over 132 million orphans according to www.unicef.org and other sources suggest closer to 143-163 million world wide
In 2005 an approximate 1 billion did not have suitable housing and 100 million had no housing whatsoever
That is a lot of people. Can you name one? One person experiencing any of these problems? See what I mean? The average American is isolated and detached from all of these problems.
How about the first definition: to prevent or reduce transmission of electricity, heat, or sound to or from (a body, device, or region) by surrounding with a nonconducting material. Or in this example: reduce transmission of awareness of the problem, compassion or consideration for the needy, or desire to change the status quo for those suffering from these situations.
We have been made into an island. We have become detached from our surroundings. We can't see beyond our own easily gained comfort. Cold? Turn up the heat. Hungry? Order a pizza. Bored? Numb your mind with one of many "reality" shows celebrating the mortifying egocentricity of countless people who are proud to flaunt their depravity. It must break God's heart that this is our "reality". I know it breaks mine.
So how do we overcome this detachment? This paralyzing sense of entitlement? This insulation?
It is going to be hard my friends. Especially for those of us who have managed to obey Jesus and do something. I don't think there is anything more difficult than adopting the second child when it was such a challenge to adopt the first. If you find yourself in this situation understand that most of your "support system" will indulge your "need" to help once, but don't go overboard now. Reject this, friend! Jesus gave His All. He paid it all. If we are His, our lives are not our own. We must pour out ourselves for him.
1 Corinthians 9:24
24(A)Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives (B)the prize? (C)Run in such a way that you may win.
Matthew 25:44-45
44"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
45"Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
Ephesians 4:1b
Therefore I urge you who have been chosen by God to live up to the life to which He called you to.
Tear off the insulation of this life. Stand naked and raw in the face of dire need and don't flinch. Don't stop working, shouting, crying, helping, until the work is done or He calls you home. Yearn for the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant..."
