All…

July is an anniversary month. For a nation. For a vision. For a dream. 244 years and counting.
 
During this month, and in the midst of what feels like a crumbling foundation, I have been tugged back to the beginning. Yes, the beginning of the United States, but also The Beginning. The design of God. His robust plan for humankind.
 
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America.) 

• Self-evident. Obvious. Apparent. Bold and blatant.
• Created equal as an endorsement and stewardship of our Creator’s design.
• Unalienable rights. The right to life. To liberty. To be able to pursue happiness and opportunity without restriction. 

But the singular word that blasts out of this 35-word sentence is the three-letter word ALL.

This vision and commitment made to ALL people. To everyone.

All.

Three letters that anchor this pledge. Three letters that shine the light on accountability. Three letters that demand our allegiance. Three letters that point us to our God.

All.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” (Genesis 1:26, NLT)

Every man and woman. Image bearers of the triune God. Every. All. Not some. Not a few. All.

But… we all sin. All. Regularly. Defiantly. Consistently. Selfishly. (Romans 3:23)

All of us, like sheep, have wandered. We picked our own way. Our own path. And because of that, we got lost… really lost… forever lost. (Isaiah 53:6) All of us. Lost.

In fact, so lost that we were declared dead. All of us. Not just sick… not on life support… but flat-lined. Gone. (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Then God, sent His son. For the world. For humankind. For the ALL. (John 3:16)

And His heart beats for all, for everyone. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

A desire that all…

Yes. All. And in Biblical terms, the Greek word “pas”, is what is used 1243 times in the New Testament. And its precise meaning is… well, all. Every. No nuance or embellishment required.

The Preamble got it right. But time. But egos. But hatred. But oppression. But greed. But rationalization. But dehumanization. But politics. But politicians. But laws. But human beings. But sin. But me… messed it up.

And where we… where I, have been complicit, or ignorant, or oblivious, or numb to the lack of ALL in all, then I am compelled to confess. And then I am constrained to correct. Then I am bound to advocate… for all.

Not because it’s in the Preamble, but because it’s on the heart of God.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
    and see that they get justice. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

And yes, all isn’t all until the Shepherd found the one.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:4-5, ESV)

At Creation. And in 1776. The heart of God. For equality. For freedom. For liberty. For justice. For dignity.

Yes, for all of us. Created equal. And granted, not by a political system, or even a constitution, but by our Creator… rights. Not for a few. But for all.

He drafted those plans in the Garden.

For all.