Have you ever wondered why so many of us have pictures of our spouses and kids in our homes, hanging on the walls of our offices, sitting on desks and dressers, and easily located on our phones, tablets and computers? The answer is obvious – life is precious! We love our family and friends. We bond to those we have adopted or brought into this world through natural birth. Our tears could fill buckets when a loved one dies. And we simply cannot stop praying for someone whom we know is clinging to life.
Why? Human life is a gift and it is priceless.
On January 22 our nation remembers. We remember that fateful day when it was announced in 1973 that a life could be taken for no other reason than it was unwanted. A life of value and worth. A life that could have produced the next doctor to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, cancer, or solved one of the plaguing problems of our day. A life that could have appeared in someone’s family Christmas picture like those we just sent out last month—a life to be celebrated as precious in God’s eyes.
As God’s people, we should remember the answers to the following questions when it comes to life.
WHO IS THE CREATOR OF LIFE?
Psalm 139:13, 14 says…
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
God created life and yes, that includes the preborn. They are living human beings from conception. One of the most revealing passages in the New Testament part of our Bible is found in Luke 1:39-45. John the Baptist actually jumps inside of Elizabeth’s womb when Jesus, still inside Mary’s womb, enters the room.
Now all of this raises a very important question: Does location and stage of development determine life or the value of life? No. Does location determine the value of someone’s life because they are born in a slum in the middle of Nairobi, Kenya, or Haiti? Furthermore, if a child is still developing outside of the womb and is protected by laws, then why does the location and development of that child a few seconds earlier mean it is less valuable and less of a life? It just doesn’t stand up to honest reason or medical science.
I know that for some reading this, you do not go to Rockpoint Church or any other church. You may not believe the Bible or allow it to carry any weight at all in your decision on this issue. All I ask is that you consider medical science.
Back in 1973 they didn’t have the medical technology we do today. The advancement of ultrasound procedures for instance, continues to reinforce the fact that each and every baby in the womb, regardless of location and development, is a living, feeling human being with endless value and worth.
It is also a scientific fact that human life begins at conception. Strands of DNA are formed and a human life begins to grow inside a mother’s womb. Once again, I want to point out that location and stage of development do not determine value and worth.
WHY SHOULD I VALUE LIFE?
Colossians 1:16 says…
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.”
God created life and values life. He created us as humans to live for Him. It is why the Psalmist can sing out loud in Psalm 100:3, “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
It is because He created us to live with Him, He gave the priceless gift of His son on the cross in payment for the debt of our sin. His desire is to redeem us so we can experience an abundant life with Him from this day forward. Value and worth are always determined by what someone is willing to pay. Since life is priceless and Jesus gave His life for each of us, then we are of infinite value and worth to Almighty God. Jesus gave His life for us because our physical and spiritual life is worth more than anything.
If God, my Creator and Lord values life, and I am a follower of Jesus, then so should I. And furthermore, I must not remain silent on this issue. I must pray, give, vote and yes, even protest at times when life is at stake. It was precisely because people remained silent that 6 million Jews were murdered in Nazi Germany.
Abortion, the holocaust of today, has taken over 56 million lives since 1973, and too many Christians simply choose to remain silent.
The taking of an innocent human life is a modern day sin on our generation. This of course includes life from conception through the end of life. All life is precious regardless of the stage of development, growth and maturity. It is why God says to not murder (Exod. 20:1, 13) and to not shed innocent blood (Jeremiah 7:6).
BUT, CAN I BE FORGIVEN?
For a woman who faces an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy, the decision of what to do with this child in her womb is the toughest decision she will face. Only God who is the author of all life, including her life, is able to provide the guidance she needs. That will come through His Word, the Bible, and also through a community of loving people who offer wise, godly counsel. But sometimes a decision is made that goes against all that God teaches us about life and the unborn. When that happens, yes forgiveness and healing can come.
1 John 1:9 says…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The key word here is “if.” When we come to Him with a repentant heart, we are assured of His forgiveness and restoration. For a follower of Christ it means the relationship is restored to a loving Heavenly Father. However, the relationship begins when we put our trust completely in Jesus Christ as our Savior who died and paid the price for our sin. The moment you admit you are a sinner, believe that Jesus died on the cross in payment for the debt of your sin, and put your trust in His death for your forgiveness, you receive eternal life.
No matter how far you are from Him, you are only one step back to finding His love and forgiveness. You can find healing and hope again. We as a church want to point you in the right direction for wise, godly counsel and a loving community that will walk with you through this journey. Our desire is to help you grow as a Christ follower and also provide resources for you if you have, or know someone who has experienced the tragedy of abortion.
WHERE CAN I GO FOR HELP?
There are a number of agencies that can provide you with materials, wise counsel and someone who can simply listen to your story. The websites below are a great place to start.
- Counseling Care – counselingcare.us
- New Life Family Services – nlfs.org
- Options for Women – optionsforwomenstcroixvalley.org
- Bethany Adoption – bethany.org
- Family Research Council – frc.org
God loves you and so do we. If you would like to talk to someone in addition to locating the above resources, please contact us by phone or e-mail. Rockpoint Church is a community of broken and imperfect people who have found hope in Christ. We would love to share with you the hope we have and help you live differently and love radically. Please remember, that all life is precious and that includes you!
