Not everyone feels the same way, but Patrick’s mother really believes her son is worth saving. Margaret Terry’s 29-year-old son has only months – maybe weeks left to live. His liver is not responding to the medical treatment for alcoholic hepatitis. He has reached end-stage liver disease. Time is running out. Only a liver transplant can save his life; and, his mother believes Patrick is worth saving.

As the sand runs through the hour-glass. and the moments tick away, an ethical debate is raging behind closed doors and in the public forum. Who qualifies most for a liver transplant? A person who lives a disciplined and healthy lifestyle but suffers from liver disease or, someone who has destroyed their liver through excessive drinking and has been previously warned?

The disease of alcoholism has afflicted both sides of Patrick’s family. Patrick is a graduate of Sheridan College and works in the film industry. The six-foot young man did very well academically and earned several awards at Sheridan College. But a few years ago, his battle with alcohol began to rage.

Patrick was admitted to St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, ON) in July. But his condition is deteriorating. His mother says: “He’s dark yellow. He looks like he’s been dipped in iodine. I’m his mom and I’m watching him fade away … It’s devastating.”

While Patrick’s mother prays for a miracle, others debate how to prioritize the waitlist for organ transplants. According to the guidelines used by professionals, Patrick doesn’t qualify. His mother is begging for an exception and a second chance for her 29-year-old boy.

“My son is not a hopeless alcoholic,” she said. “He’s worth saving.”

Please take time to pray for Patrick Terry today. But have you thought much about your value – your worth?

A Spiritual Reflection for All of Us

On another level, a spiritual one – have you ever wondered what God thinks of you? We know our own secrets. We know our tendencies, as well as our failures, struggles, and sins. We know more about the darker side of ourselves than the person closest to us on earth.  So often we experience the guilt of wrong-doing and promise ourselves we will never do it again – but we do. Despite whatever progress we make or polish we apply to enhance ourselves, we know we are broken inside.

Am I Worth Saving?

If people really knew as much about us as we know about ourselves – would they think we were worth saving?

We understand a mother’s heart when she says: “He’s worth saving!” Does it shock you that God feels the same way about you?  More than anyone else – He knows our heart. He knows not only what we have done and what we have thought about doing, He also knows the evil capacity of a broken heart to do even more and to helplessly go even further down the lost path of sin.

The Bible says:

He [God] knows the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21

Despite all God knows, He says: “She is worth saving!” “He is worth saving!”

Nasty Attitude Toward God

People call God the worst of names. To many, He is nothing more than a swear word. Some mock the thought that He even exists. Others challenge His authority and could care less that they are rebelling against their Creator. Many totally ignore Him and live their lives with God standing on the outside. They would pay more attention to a stray cat at their door, than to a loving God who would love to enter and be a blessing.

So, when God is treated rudely – does He change His mind about the worth of the person?

God’s heart was on full display as people pummelled the lovely face of Jesus and made it wet with their spit. Jesus never retaliated or threatened them. When they pounded rough nails through his hands and feet to attach Him to a torturous cross and then laughed at His agony – His heart was saying:

“He’s worth dying for. She’s worth the shedding of My blood. That sinner is worth saving.”

Broken Image Bearers

God places an infinite value upon you – despite all you know about yourself. Your choices and your habits have not tainted His view of you or diminished your value in His eyes. Unlike the rest of His amazing creation, people were made in God’s image.

Then God said, “Let Us make human beings in Our image, to be like Us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So, God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27 NLT

Our choice to rebel and sin against our Creator had colossal consequences. We became broken image-bearers and oh, how broken we are! The evidence is found everywhere on the planet and in each of our hearts.

Value Not Diminished

Click here to read the Spiritual Lesson from the College Admission Scandal

Did God write you off? Did God discount or even totally dismiss my value – or yours? The God of love and incredible grace (beyond even the love of a mother or a father) sent His Son down to earth to pay the penalty of our sins by dying on a cross – so we could be saved! “She is worth saving.”

God was not reluctant to provide salvation, nor was Jesus pressured to stretch out his arms on a cross to die for sins. It was one infinite act of love because you are worth saving.

Worth Saving

For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

God says you are worth saving and repeatedly throughout the Bible, He expresses His desire to save you. The question at the end of this post – do you want Him to save you?

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Source for story and images:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/09/06/hes-worth-saving-mother-pleads-for-exception-after-sons-past-drinking-keeps-him-from-a-liver-transplant.html          Sahar Fatima, Staff Reporter

 

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