Man is inherently an independent creature, and carries a potent desire to be in control of his own life.1 This is especially true in the 21st century, when the spirit of autonomy across western nations is stronger than ever. The particular control we seek is not just the quality of our lives, but also the quantity (how long we live).
Western society covets longevity. There is even a philosophy (transhumanism) which purposely seeks to free humans from the inconvenience of physical death.2 In an era when people are living longer and longer, many view a long life as their absolute ‘right’ (among scores of other ‘rights’ we’ve arrogantly assumed in recent times). Somewhat abruptly, Covid-19 has dared to challenge that assumption. We have discovered that we do not have quite as strong a handle of this aspect of life. The fear and disorientation induced by this is a major cause of the hysteria rampant across the nation at the moment.
In an era when people are living longer and longer, many view a long life as their absolute ‘right’.
A price worth paying?
For months on end, the British public has been fed a diet of fear. Some of that has been based on bad science; much of it on hysterical media coverage. Such fear exists to the extent that the populace of Britain has been willing to bring the country to a virtual standstill in order to regain some sort of control on the ‘quantity’ of our lives. We closed schools, endangering the education levels of a whole generation of children. We closed shops, factories, libraries, cafes, restaurants and countless other workplaces, putting the livelihoods of millions of individuals at risk. If only it will extend the lives of lives of a number of people, we say, then it will have been totally worthwhile.
All of this, of course, has had a phenomenal impact on the country’s economy. But we Brits consider all this financial cost and social upheaval thoroughly worthwhile. We conveniently ignore how future generations are going to deal with such unprecedented debt-levels. Our focus is on the present – on us: that our lives, or the lives of those near and dear to us, might not be suddenly cut short.
Quantity over quality
The prominence we give to extending quantity of life for its own sake is evidenced in the way we’ve cared for (or perhaps, neglected) those in care homes. The vulnerable and mentally ill have been forcibly confined to secluded rooms, denied visits from family members, and refused affection even from those paid to care for them. Such sudden neglect, especially of those who cannot comprehend the reasons behind it, has resulted in untold anxiety and misery – and even, ironically, hastened death for some. It was noted by one experienced carer – who was so disheartened by the "abuse" she witnessed that she left her vocation in disgust and outrage – that society is “ultimately ignoring the importance of quality of life over quantity”.4
Unique in human history
At no other point in Britain’s history have we reacted to the reality of death and danger in such a manner. Other life-threatening viruses that have unloosed themselves on civilisation have included the Spanish flu epidemic of 1919, and SARS (from 2003). But our reaction to those was decidedly different to how we’re reacting now. We sought to do everything we could to eliminate the virus, but in general we carried on with our lives. Locking down society was not even considered to be an option.
It has been the same with other threats to society, such as the First or Second World Wars and other conflict scenarios. Our response was to face such menacing hostilities head on, rather than recoiling in fear, and hiding from them. Our reaction to the present scenario is quite unique in human history.
But our response is also highly ironic and illogical – a common outcome of panic. In focusing on Covid-19 we’re utterly neglecting other very real threats to human lives, whereby life-threatening treatments are postponed indefinitely, and there is an increase in all manner of emotional and mental illnesses, resulting also in an increase in suicides. Official documents estimate that nearly 75,000 people could die from non-Covid causes because of lockdown measures in coming months.5
Transience of life
Illness and disease have accompanied humankind throughout history and we in the West are highly fortunate to be so free of them. We watch TV footage of disasters hitting far-distant countries, and swathes of the population being devastated by floods, earthquakes and starvation. We may be disturbed by the scale of the tragedies, and we may pity the unfortunate victims, but somehow we come to accept that things like that can happen ‘over there’. Natural disasters have no place ‘over here’, in our communities.
The reality is that we are not ultimately in control of our own lives, a truth that this secular world can hardly bring itself to admit. For in owning up to it, is to recognise our human weakness, and to admit that we are vulnerable, frightened and confused creatures. It is to admit, further, the transience of life. "The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up." (1 Sam 2:6, cf Prov 16:9, James 4:14, cf Job 8:9, Ps 39:4).
Reaching beyond ourselves
And yet it’s only when we see what the Bible clearly tells us – that we are poor, needy individuals – that we will ever even consider reaching out beyond ourselves in search of help. It’s only when we’re willing to recognise his possible existence that we might seek him, and call out to him. And it’s only when we call out to him that we will find him – the God who is calling out to us, and promises us eternal life, rather than longevity in this life.
And it’s only when we call out to him that we will find him.
In one sense, this longing for longevity is not surprising. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has set eternity in the hearts of men. But instead of seeking the God of eternity, we’ve made physical life our god. It’s before that altar that the western populace fall.
God is shaking the nations, with the ultimate aim of striking at the heart of man’s condition – his proud, independent spirit. (Ex 20:2, Deut 5:6). Let us pray that the lost may seek the Lord while he may be found (Isa 55:6). May we, as believers, be ever found sharing his light and love with those who are in need of him.
Endnotes
1 As Kathryn Price pointed out in her article in Prophecy Today a couple of weeks ago
2 See more on transhumanism in this week’s book review by Paul Luckraft
3. UK national debt hits record £2.024 trillion, by Mark Shapland, Evening Standard, 25 September 2020
4.Letter From a Care Home Whistleblower, Lockdown Sceptics, 14 October 2020
5 'Lockdown 'could kill 75,000 over five years', by Ben Spencer, The Daily Mail, 25 September 2020
