(published: Cordele Dispatch - 1/20/13)
Most anniversaries, such as birthdays and weddings, are occasions to celebrate. There are other occasions, however, that are not to be celebrated but to remember a day of sadness and grief. Today is such a time for Christians and pro-life supporters as we remember a day that would forever change the course of history in the United States, the decision of Roe v. Wade.
This Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of the 1973 landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court to legalize abortion. In this decision, the court ruled that unborn children are not persons protected by the right to life set forth in the Constitution but that under the constitution, a woman has the fundamental right to choose to abort the unborn child up until the time of viability. Since then, abortions are even offered for those past the first trimester.
As a woman, I myself want the freedom to make my own decisions concerning my body and my overall health. However, as a Christian, it is my belief that none of us have the right to decide to take the life of an unborn child, regardless of the circumstances. As with any sin, there will be consequences to pay, but I believe the consequences for willingly destroying an innocent life can have devastating effects on the human soul.
Since abortion was legalized, not only have there been heartbreaking consequences in many of the lives of those directly affected by abortion, but our country as a whole has been affected.
In its 2011-2012 annual report, Planned Parenthood revealed that it had performed 333,964 abortion procedures. The reality of that is that 333,964 babies died at their hands.
The Bible makes it clear that all life is created by God, regardless of the circumstances. Psalm 139:13-16 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”.
I believe America is being judged by God for our sins as a nation, and the legalization of abortion has led the way. Our nation as a whole has not repented and called on His name to heal our land. Yes, there are thousands of Christians that have prayed and worked hard to get this message across, but our voices have been overshadowed by those opposing biblical values. Our nation as a whole has become so selfish and greedy that we only seek to satisfy our own selfish desires. We want instant gratification and refuse to wait on the Lord’s instruction or to follow the principles laid out for us in God’s Word.
So where do we go from here? Will it only get worse? Will America eventually self-destruct as a result of our sinful living and completely turn its back on God?
As the body of Christ, we must fight to keep this from happening. We must not give up. We cannot give in to the demands of those who oppose our way of life. We must continue to make a stand and fight one battle at a time, for we know victory will ultimately belong to the Lord.
What can you do to help? First, pray and ask God what He would have you do. Prayer itself is the most powerful weapon we have to fight the forces of spiritual darkness that threaten to overtake this world. But prayer alone is not enough. We must put “feet to our prayers”. We have to be engaged and learn to speak out for Biblical values in all areas of life – even in the political arena. Though we may get weary at times and feel like we’re fighting a losing battle, we must not give in.
You can also support your local pregnancy care center, both financially and through service. If you do not have a center in your own town, find the one closest to you and see what their needs are. They can all use volunteers on a daily basis to help answer phones, communicate with donors, or even to clean and organize office supplies.
Finally, offer your support to a young girl or lady who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Don’t judge her for her circumstances. She may not even know Christ and the fact that there can be a completely different life for her, a life found in the living Christ who loves us, forgives us, and wants to bless us. Encourage her to choose life for her unborn baby if she is still undecided and make sure she has a support system in place to help her care for her child.
Even if we never see the decision to legalize abortion overturned, we must not lose hope. We must choose to be the voice of the unborn. We must choose to fight for life each day.
Hebrews 10:38 (KJV): “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him”.Lynn Langford
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