By Emmanuel V. John
People from every culture and custom, including Christians, are faced with making significant choices concerning life. We can never go wrong in doing what is right, by making the choice to believe God and obey His Word. The Bible is the Master Manual for life and daily living.
Our Awesome God
God knows us absolutely, or wholly. God even knew us before we were born. This is expressed in the words spoken by Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5 NKJV). When we were still in our embryonic beginnings in the womb, He knew our very thoughts. “You understand my thought afar off,” David pointed out, “… For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Ps. 139:2,13-14,16).
An Appeal To Christians
Avoid even thinking about abortion, nor yield to personal, family, political or social pressure as to it. Every person has a free will, but we must yield to God’s will! Satan said, in effect, “My will, not God’s will”: “For you [Lucifer] have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation” (Isa. 14:13). But the Lord Jesus lived out “Not My will, but God’s will.” “He [Jesus] … prayed saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Mt. 26:39). Likewise, the apostle Paul exchanged the self-life for the Christ-life, and said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
We too must follow God’s will and know that children are gifts from God to be loved, treasured and trained for Him. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward” (Ps. 127:3).
God’s Amazing Grace
We discover more of His amazing grace when we believe Him in the midst of difficulties. My family told me that before I was born my dad was working on a crane along the coast. While at work, a telephone pole unhooked and struck him on his shoulder with a great force, which threw him into the sea. He was rescued, but his left shoulder and hand were severely injured, leaving only one living vein in his hand. Dad was hospitalized. At one point he was in critical condition, and the doctor gave no hope of his survival. However, he was a true believer, and in quietness God gave my dad this message: “[You] shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD” (Ps. 118:17).
Soon after, even though he was in pain, my mother brought him home, where she cared for him. Three years later, with six children in the family, a sick husband, and no significant source of support, my mother discovered that she was pregnant with her seventh child. She believed God in spite of the odds, knowing that the baby could be born with various defects. But God honored her faith in Him and gave her a healthy baby boy. That child is the one who is now writing this appeal to you. Thank God for godly parents, for all seven children and the grandchildren are in the family of God. I am now 72 years of age, serving the Lord.
An Assurance
I want you to know that there is hope, help and healing in our precious Lord Jesus. If you have had abortions and are haunted by the ghost of guilt, please know that God’s grace is greater than your sin. God says, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20). Do not cover your sins, but confess them to the Lord and receive His forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Now that you are forgiven when you confess your sins, you do not want to ever, by God’s grace, have another abortion. Conquer sins by walking in the light of God’s Word and having fellowship with Him (1 Jn. 1:7). Thus, say “NO” to abortion and “YES” in your allegiance to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.