Corn syrup for babies!

The idea of the weak and poor being preyed upon is as old as dirt, I suppose. This hit home for us recently as we perused a local grocery store. We came upon a bottle of Karo corn syrup. It was labeled as baby food and promised to aid in easy digestion. The back of the bottle gave directions for how to properly mix it in your baby’s bottle.  This is appalling. An American based company, preying upon mothers who don’t know the difference. I’m sure the people who buy this product (and similar products) are buying it with good intentions. With the thought, “this will help my baby grow.” And I’m sure the companies selling the products are doing whatever they can to make another penny.

I saw this in Africa, as well. Infant formula companies advertising to African mothers, convincing them store-bought formula was better for their babies than mother’s milk. As a result, many mothers stopped breastfeeding and began feeding their infants formula. However, formula is expensive and they couldn't afford to give their babies the recommended amount. They started adding more water than the direction called for. Meanwhile, infant formula companies were making more and more money while more and more African babies suffered from malnutrition.

These things are mild compared to many other injustices in our world. War ravaged lands. Child slaves. Abused women. Starving people groups. And the list goes on.

These examples serve as reminders to us about a few things. First, they remind us that we live in a corrupt, often unjust world. However, the Bible tells us that our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (check out Ephesians 6). It can be difficult (but important) to remember, that our enemy is not the president of a corrupt government, our enemy is not the CEO of Monsanto, and our enemy is not the rich man who exploits the poor. Satan is our enemy.

Second, these examples remind us that our God is bigger. God looks down from heaven and He sees everything that goes on. But vengeance belongs to Him and in His timing. It’s not our job. In the finiteness (is that a word?) of my being I can cry out and say, “Lord, why don’t you do something now? Why do you wait?” But who am I? I am made out of mere dust. Will I offer advice to the Creator of the Universe? I strongly believe that He is not ignoring pain and suffering and injustice in the world. Just because I do not see or understand His answer, does not mean that He is not answering.

Lastly, all of this reminds us how this life is temporary. In light of eternity, even the worst that could happen to us on earth, will fade away in light of God’s glory. One day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Revelation 21:3-4 “…Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

While we anxiously wait for that day to arrive, I do not believe we’re supposed to have an apathetic attitude towards injustice and suffering in the world. God calls us to defend the helpless, to aid the orphans and widows, to give to those in need, etc. But when it seems as though the world is in a downward spiral, with evil increasing daily, remember these truths. Our hope comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. What a dying, hurting world needs is to know the love of Jesus so they too can have every tear wiped away one day.