Choose Life

As we, here in Idaho, draw closer to an election with a proposition that will reverse our virtual ban on abortion, and our neighbors to the north in Canada are using MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying) to kill their citizens with developmental disabilities and dementia, among other conditions, my thoughts have been on what God thinks about all this.  What does God think about life?  What is life?  

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”
Genesis 3:7

Scripture tells us that God formed man from the dust of the ground.  Man was lifeless, but created in God’s image.  Then God breathed into him the breath of life.  The awesome human body that God created began to function, and man began to move.  This creature was different than any other which God had previously created – the birds, fish, beasts, and creeping things.  The man was in the image of God Himself, had God’s breath in his lungs, and was therefore set apart and more sacred than anything else God had created.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27

God knew that man needed a mate and a helper, so He created woman.  This woman was designed to, among other things, carry the new life that would be created by the man and herself until the new life was ready to be born into this world.  As we now know from the advances of biology and biochemistry, life begins at conception.  The moment the sperm infiltrates the ovum, the ovum is sealed and a brand new human life begins to grow.  A completely different set of DNA from the mother and the father is created.  This new life is not a part of the mother, like a new organ or a tumor, nor is it apart from the mother.  It is a life within a life.  It is a separate, sacred, beautiful human being, whom God is knitting together inside the woman’s womb.  It should be the safest place in the world for that little baby.

“For You formed my inward parts; 
You wove me in my mother’s womb.  
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
Wonderful are Your works, 
And my soul knows it very well.  
My frame was not hidden from You, 
When I was made in secret, 
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; 
And in Your book were all written 
The days that were ordained for me, 
When as yet there was not one of them.” 
Psalm 139: 13-16

God already has plans for our days here on earth, even before we are conceived.  He knows us from even before our conception.  So when a baby in the womb is aborted, and his or her innocent blood is shed, that is murder in God’s eyes.

“You shall not murder.” 
Exodus 20:13  

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” 
Genesis 9:6

Sin has certainly marred us and our relationship with God, but because we are made in His image, human life is to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter our size, age, mental or physical capacity, or location in this world.  Both a newly-conceived human in the womb and a fully-grown human are due the same dignity and respect. 

Moreover, our entire lives are in God’s trustworthy hands.  God determines our days, not us.  He forms us in our mother’s wombs, and ends our lives here on earth according to His will.  Sometimes that is in the form of a sudden death, like an accident or heart attack.  For many, it means years of fighting a terminal illness, like cancer.  The pain and grief we endure because of this reminds us that we live in a fallen world, and this isn’t as good as it gets.  Christians can hang on to the truth that, as followers of Jesus, we get to share in His glory, but we also must share in His pain.  For if we accept His grace, His wonderful gifts, and His abounding love, do we get the luxury of rejecting the troubles of this world, the hate from others toward us because of our faith, and the pain, both emotional and physical, we suffer in this life?  Suffering in this way does serve a purpose.  We are drawn closer to the Lord.  We have more empathy for fellow sufferers.  Our faith grows and we can be an encouragement to others. 

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,”
Philippians 1:29

As I deal with cancer treatments and their myriad side effects, it’s easy to fall into self-pity and want to be done with it.  But then I think of all that my Savior endured while here on earth: the rejection, betrayal, poverty, the physical pain of the crucifixion, and the spiritual pain of being separated from the Father. 

“I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.” 
Galatians 2:20

And I think about the joy that lies before me:

“For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,”
2 Corinthians 4:17

When I get to heaven, these last many years of dealing with chemo, radiation, pills, nausea, and fatigue will disappear from memory, or at least seem like a whisper in a room full of rejoicing and singing. 

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

As Christians, we need to trust in the Lord and know He will call us home in His timing.  Fortunately, we live in an age when palliative care can alleviate or even completely remove pain and allow the body to shut down naturally.  There should be no need for assisted suicide or other forms of quickening the death cycle.  Unfortunately, assisted suicide is rising today as people with mental illness, dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc. are turning to it as an answer.  Or, more alarmingly, their families or physicians are deciding that they are better off dead so they won’t suffer.  The real answer to all of this pain should be Jesus.  Those who belong to Him have the promise of eternal life, and He promises to walk with us in this world as we experience pain.  What these suffering people need isn’t a shot or a pill to end their life – they need Jesus.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me; 
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” 
Psalm 23:4

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 
John 3:16

I’m not saying that giving your life to Jesus will suddenly cure you of disease or pain.  If that were so, I would be wondering where my cure got waylaid.  We still need physicians and medicine, but having a relationship with Jesus gives you the strength and power to  endure.  His promise of eternal life provides comfort and a peace beyond all understanding.   

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,”
Deuteronomy 30:19 

Moses is speaking here to the Israelites, just before God takes him home.  He is giving final instructions to them, reminding them to follow God’s commandments and stay in His will for them.  Whenever they obeyed God they chose life, and they were blessed and prospered.  When they disobeyed God they chose death, and they were cursed and failed.    

Today, those of us who follow Jesus should choose life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10  

Satan, the thief, wants only our destruction.  He hates God and everything created by God (except himself, of course).  The more humans he can kill through abortion and assisted suicide, the more gleeful he is.

“…I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,”
John 11:25

“The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.” 
Matthew 10:39 

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we choose life.   Even though our earthly body will die, our spirit lives on in the presence of the Lord.  We choose life when we give up our selfish desires and sinful lusts, choosing instead to live for Jesus and follow Him.  

We are made in the image of God, with reason, emotions and a free will.  If we make the choice to follow Jesus, God’s Word leads and guides us as we make decisions in our lives, and God says “choose life”.