The sanctity of Life has been a political battle for many decades, and people from both camps have passionate views on this matter. In reality, this is not a debatable issue because we are not the creator nor the preserver of life. Whenever human life becomes a political issue, we are on a slippery slope. The debate on this crucial issue forces people to determine whose life is valuable and whose is not! The Lord creates every human being in their mother’s womb, and shapes them uniquely according to His design and plan (See Psalm 71:6 and Psalm 139:13-15). He is the one who determines the value and the significance of every life.
Before I discuss this important topic, it is important to address the fact that this devotional is not about those who have become pregnant due to sexual crimes against them. Those situations are horrific and need professional assistance and care in helping the victim.
We live in a culture where we celebrate and worship having a choice. We feel entitled to exercise our right to choose, but we forget two important facts. First, our free will is given by God as a gift to be exercised with wisdom. Second, our choices have consequences.
Our culture has changed to the point that sex outside of marriage is the norm. People want to live and act like a married couple without the commitment that this type of intimacy requires. They have this imaginary and idealistic view of life that they can do what they want to do without the harsh reality of its consequence such as unplanned pregnancy. Every choice has a fruit and a consequence. As a nation we are guilty of sowing many seeds of pleasures and lusts of the flesh, which have major consequences on the value and sanctity of life.
But they mingled with the Gentiles
And learned their works;
They served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
They even sacrificed their sons
And their daughters to demons,
And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with blood.
Thus they were defiled by their own works,
And played the harlot by their own deeds. Psalm 106:35-39
After entering the Promised Land, the Israelites became polluted with the culture of their surroundings, and they took on the rituals and traditions of their neighbors. One of those rituals was a sacrifice of children to idols. They forgot the fact that God saved their children in Egypt when He sent plagues against the Egyptians. Now they willingly sacrificed their innocent babies to the idols of Canaan. These actions were horrific and atrocious, and God was displeased with them and called them harlots!
Are we doing any better in this day and age!? Sadly, people are willing to sacrifice babies at the altar of convenience, education, career, etc. The fact is that it’s not their choice that gives value to the life of a baby, but the God who created the baby. The Supreme Court decided in 1973 that abortion is legal, but this court cannot take the place of God and His precepts.
59 million babies have been aborted since legalization of abortion. People may have the freedom to choose abortion, but life is still God’s idea and God is not pleased when we go against what He deems valuable and significant. When God watches over a baby in the womb and gives it life and purpose, who are we to deny the chance of life for the little unprotected baby!?
What is a Christian’s responsibility as it relates to this issue? There are at least four things we can do. First, we need to continue to teach, preach, and advocate celibacy before marriage. The number of abortions could be a lot smaller if we stressed celibacy from the pulpit. We should talk about it in the youth and young adult meetings as it relates to unplanned pregnancy and abortion. I’m surprised our religious leaders don’t talk more about this issue in a very real way.
Second, we need to advocate for the life of the baby in the womb in variety of ways including voting for political candidates who are pro-life. Even though abortion is legal, we still want people who advocate for protection of life and not allow laws and policies to be established where government finances abortions or encourages it in any shape or form.
Third, we need to let people know that God forgives those who have aborted babies in the past if they are repentant. As a matter of fact, it is critical for people to seek the forgiveness and the healing of the Lord. The pain of choosing abortion has great spiritual, emotional, and physical consequences that only Jesus can heal. We all have sinned in variety of ways, and sometimes we have not experienced the consequence of our bad choices. We cannot forget that the Lord is merciful, and He is a gracious and forgiving Father. We need to extend mercy to others as God has been merciful to us.
Fourth, we need to promote more avenues for adoption of the babies whose mothers are unprepared and incapable of caring for them. Why is adoption so expensive and difficult!? We cannot abandon a mother who chooses life after she gives birth. We need to think about resources and avenues that can help this baby to have a healthy and loving environment and have the best chance in life.
We are called to be a voice for the voiceless (See Proverbs 31:8-9). What are we doing about it to ensure that the sanctify of life is protected at every stage? Let’s pray and seek God on how we can be part of the answer to this crucial problem.