How would you describe our world today? One phrase that is sometimes used is, “going to hell in a handbasket.” Why exactly the idea of using a handbasket to transport someone to hell is used is not exactly known, but the phrase’s use, according to one historian, can be traced back to at least 1682. The fact is, while our current society differs in that our communications technology and social media can rapidly spread ideas and more easily sway popular opinion than at any time previous in history, there have always been times of moral decay. For instance, a quick survey of some of the Greek and Roman gods, reveals “deities” with serious moral and ethical flaws. What we know of the idols Baal, Asherah and Molech mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures shows the same. 

But perhaps we should stop and ask the question, “By what standard do we judge something to be ethically or morally right or wrong?” For us as God’s people, we judge those things based on what God has revealed to us in His Word in which He describes the path of true love reflecting who He, the Creator, is as a loving God. But for people who do not believe in Him, their standard for judging right or wrong is not going to be the same. Thus, while we may look at some things as morally and ethically offensive, others may not share that belief. In other words, we as Christians should not expect everyone to share our same values. 

But what it also means is that we have a wonderful opportunity to show the difference following Jesus makes. For instance, Earth Day is this Saturday, April 22. In fact, this entire week is observed as “Earth Week” by some. For us who see the earth as a gift from the Creator and one of our God-given roles as stewards of that creation, we don’t need just a day or a week to emphasize the importance of caring for this gift. In thanksgiving to our Lord, we care about it every day. And not just the earth, but for the people on it as well. And so, when disasters happen and we see people in need, our heart goes out to them and we want to care for them, reflecting a loving Creator who designed us to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

While plenty of non-Christians do loving things, and, unfortunately, many who take the title “Christian” live anything but loving lives, the question always comes back to, “Why should I care?” And if one’s response is, “Because it’s the right thing to do,” the most logical follow-up question is: “How do you know what is right and what is wrong?” For us who follow Jesus, the answer is in Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life – the One who did not want the world to go to hell in a handbasket but came to save us from something much greater than climate change or World War III. He came to carry us in His loving arms to heaven.