flyer than angels

is it worth it?

Are you willing to die that a generation might live?

Are you willing to put your hopes and dreams on the shelf, that God’s hopes and dreams for a generation of young people might be realized?

It’s the things in life that are worth dying for that are the only things worth living for.

We live in an age that is so driven by instant and personal gratification. We read self-help books, we watch do-it-yourself videos, we know how to “just do it,” that “it’s your world,” and that wherever we go we can “have it our way.” The books we read, the classes we take, even the food we eat is defined by personal choice and personal satisfaction. Our relationships and friendships are based upon how others make us feel, what others give to us, and whether or not our needs are met.

We attend a church (that is, if we even choose to attend a church in the first place) based upon whether or not we like the pastor’s sermons, approve of the sanctuary, or if we like the other people in the congregation. “Does this place really fit me” is just another way of saying “do I really want to be here long-term?” “Is God calling me here” is just another way of saying “can I stand hearing these people preach and teach me for the next year?”

Even our personal walk with God is defined by how we feel - if we’re having a bad day, or we’re not really feeling that passage of Scripture, no biggie, we’ll just skip it. We’ve got issues with God today, we’re taking time off, us and God just are on bad terms right now - because He didn’t quite answer my prayer the way we wanted, or because He’s allowing us to go through a tough time, our finances haven’t started to increase, or we’re still single!!

That’s our attitude.

We’re asking ourselves continually, “Is this God thing really worth it,” as if His call was subject to our choice.

We’re professionals at living for ourselves.

But here’s the problem: While we continue to live for ourselves, hundreds of thousands of young people, millions even, are dying for nothing.

I want you to check some of these statistics from South Korea, the land I live and minister in:

In South Korea:

1 in 4 high school and middle school sexually active students have had an abortion.

Korea has the highest abortion rate among developed nations. Abortion is known in Korea to be one of the most effective means of birth control, contributing to Korea having the world’s lowest birth rate.

In Korea, 76% of women in their 20s and 30s have had plastic surgery, and 1 in 4 Korean mothers with daughters between the ages of 12 to 16 have suggested plastic surgery to their daughters.

Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world, with 35 people killing themselves a day. That equates to over 1,000 people a month, and over 12,000 people a year. It is the leading cause of death for Korean young people.

Over half of Korean marriages end in Divorce, as Korea currently has the highest divorce rate in the world.

Korea commonly ranks in the top 10 in the world as both a sending and receiving country of trafficked women, as well as prostitution. One current alarming trend in Korea is that young women have began selling themselves into the sex industry, just so that they can buy the latest LV or Fendi purse.

And in the Korea, a country known for its prayer mountains, intercession, and missions, as well as holding the biggest churches in the world, the Korean church is declining at a rapid rate, with 5% of young people annually leaving the church.

How is it possible for a nation to die without anyone noticing? How is it possible for an entire generation of young people to be stripped of their God-given purpose and destiny without any outrage?

Jesus answered these questions in a parable, commonly known as the story of the Good Samaritan. It is found in Luke 10:25-37:

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

   ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

 ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

   ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

 ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

   ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

So many of us today are like the first two men in the parable. We think that our attention to ourselves, our ability and desire to justify ourselves in the sight of God and man is what will save us. We’re so focused on our own personal satisfaction, our own personal gratification that we pass by those on the street, in our classrooms, in our workplaces, and even in the high places who are wounded and are dying in plain sight.

“So what, I’m not Korean - these aren’t my people” you might say. Or “I may be Korean, but I don’t live here anymore - I just came to this country to teach English, save some cash, and leave.” We can give a plethora of reasons why we shouldn’t be concerned, why we shouldn’t pray, what we shouldn’t be involved - but it really comes down to one thing - personal satisfaction, and the desire for personal gratification above all else.

We walk by the man bleeding on the road, and our concern is not his welfare, but rather whether or not intervening will cost us anything. However, it was the Samaritan - the man who had no real reason to invest himself in the suffering of another - who intervened, and not only that, but he paid the cost [two denarii, two days wages] on behalf of the one who could not pay it for himself.

The salvation of those suffering around us requires for us to die to ourselves - in prayer, in finances, in our hopes and dreams - in order to follow God to the fullest, and to see systematic and real change come. But yet we’re allowing for others to die, just so we can have our own wealth, our own forms of godliness, but no power therein. While millions die, we pervert the cause of justice for our own personal gratification. Many of our prayers are not for the salvation of others, but for the fulfillment solely of ourselves - so that we can feel good, so that we will be blessed.

Mercy is something you give just to give, not in order to receive. But many of us now only sacrifice before God to receive, rather than to give that others may receive. It’s a sacrifice that doesn’t cost us anything, that is why Jesus said it like this in Matthew 12 - “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

That’s not to say that God will not meet the desires and needs of our own lives - but the Christian fully submitted to God understands that while God meets our needs, we are blessed to bless. There is still a cost that must be paid. If we might only humble ourselves, die to ourselves and pray, and seek His face in all that we do - then God will heal this land. 

Which brings me back to my initial question (which applies not only to Korea, but to America, Europe, and the rest of the world - where so many young people are being destroyed not only by abortion and suicide, but drugs, lust, and debauchery): A generation of young people are dying for nothing.

But Christ asks that we, those who have been given everything, might die for something.

Are you willing to die to yourself, that a generation might live?