The Ballestero Blog

Everyone Counts Or No One Counts

1. That was what the Homicide Detective told himself as he looked at the pictures of the dead street-walker. Some people were glad she was off the streets. Cops had busted her many times over the years for solicitation. Her rap sheet was about as long as her arm.

He certainly did not approve of her lifestyle. But just because she had lived on the streets didn’t mean she didn’t deserve justice. He would do his best to find her killer.

The ‘perp’ was still out there. He looked at the cold case file again. He reread the files that recorded all the initial investigating efforts on her case, hoping to find a clue.

No one else in the department seemed to care about finding her killer now. It had been eight years, but that didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to give up. “Everyone counts or no one counts.” That was his motto.

2. The Sunday School Bus Captain from The First Pentecostal Church and her team pulled up into The Richland Heights’ parking lot. The church name was prominently displayed on the side of the bus.

Some of the older church members had given her disapproving stares last Sunday because she had brought a big load of children from these projects.

One Sunday School Teacher had resigned because she resented the ‘low income’ people coming to their fancy new church. After all, this was a congregation whose members had a lot of money. Some argued that influential people may not come now, because of these undesirables. Besides, the children were wild and out of control. “Another good reason not to bring them here,” someone had said.

The pastor accepted the Teacher’s resignation. He told her, the Bus Captain, and the whole congregation, “Everyone counts or no one counts.” The Bus Captain agreed. That was why she was back, trying to fill up her bus again this week.

3. Jesus hung on the Cross and looked at the throng gathered there. These were the ones He was dying for. Some were mocking and taunting Him. He knew their hearts. The actually hated Him and wished Him dead.

Standing there too, were some of His followers.  His Disciples, and His Mother stood close by. They mourned. Some had tears running down their cheeks.

Others just stood there uncaring. They watched Him without any reaction.

His faithful believers and those who rejected Him surrounded him now. The sinner and the righteous believer stood there together, shoulder to shoulder.

He was dying in their place. He was their substitute. He was suffering this punishment of all sinners. Most didn’t even appreciate what He was doing for them. But He was not willing that any of them should perish. Salvation was for everyone.

He Knew, “Everyone Counts Or No One Counts.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.