Joseph Stalin said, “When one person dies it is a tragedy, but when a million die it’s a statistic.” As the numbers rise, our minds go numb. We can’t process large scale death. The individual gets lost in the crowd, even in death.
Why is the attack in Nice getting so much news coverage? Is it the horrible way they died or because innocent children were among the victims? The south of France is a playground for the rich and famous and is supposed to be immune from those kinds of problems. The area is well-known for its unrestrained lifestyle. Maybe that is why they were targeted? Perhaps the attention is due to the celebrity status of the residents? Whatever the reason, the news is filled with unbelievable pictures of the carnage.
84 people died in the attack, but the death toll wasn’t high in comparison to other attacks around the world. The number was statistically insignificant when compared to the other 150,000 people who died in the world that same day. The vast majority of those deaths won’t be mentioned in the news. Another 150,000 people will be added to that total as the news continues to cover the death of those few people. At that rate, it won’t take long to reach a million and they will become just a statistic.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t care about the death of those 84 people. All lives are precious and death is the beginning of a never-ending tragedy for the lost. We should care more that so many people pass into eternity without hearing “GOD so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Death is gain for those who accept Jesus as their Savior. The individual won’t become a statistic or get lost in the crowd. GOD loves each one of us and wants to save us one by one. He has enough love for “whosoever believes” in His son Jesus. You won’t be able to tell them all, but maybe you can tell this good news to one?
Wayne Lance (2016)