“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
—Jeremiah 1:5
“I can’t keep this baby.” Those were the last words Patricia said as she walked out the door. Her mother began to weep. Her heart was breaking for her daughter. Patricia was so young. She was only fourteen. She was too young to have a child, so she decided to terminate the pregnancy. Patricia’s mother tried to reason with her, “You can’t do that. It’s murder.” Patricia screamed at her mother, “It’s my body! It’s my life! It’s my choice!” Then, with hot tears rolling down her cheeks, she calmly said, “I can’t keep this baby,” and she walked out the door.
Patricia walked out into the sunshine. It was a beautiful late summer day. She put her hand on her stomach. A child was growing in there. Soon the summer would end. School started back up in a few weeks. She had to end this pregnancy before then. But could she do it? Could she have an abortion?
As she walked alone, her thoughts turned to the baby’s father, Tim. Patricia thought she loved him. She thought they would be together forever. But when she told him she was going to have a baby, he broke up with her.
Tim’s parents offered to pay for the “procedure.” They wanted the “situation” to go away. Tim had recently been named All-American Athlete and Scholar. He had a bright future. He was going to college. He was going to be somebody. A wife and a baby didn’t fit into those plans. Besides, Tim’s parents hated Patricia. She was “from the wrong side of the tracks.” They would never consider letting their son marry poor white trash like Patricia.
Patricia thought about her mother. She had just begged her not to have an abortion. She had offered to take the baby and raise the baby for Patricia.
Patricia thought about the child growing inside of her. Was it really a child, or was it just a mass of tissue? Should she have it, or should it be cut out like cancer?
Patricia thought about God. Where was He in all of this? It had been so long since she felt the presence of God. Did He care about her? Did He care about the baby?
She dropped to her knees right there on the sidewalk and prayed, “God, I need You now more than ever. I messed up and I don’t know what to do. Should I have this baby?” Patricia was startled when a voice answered, “You should have the baby.” She felt a hand touch her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see her mother. She had been following her. Patricia stood to her feet, and they embraced …
Patricia did have the baby and Patricia’s mother took him as her child. They named him … James. I am Patricia’s baby. One woman’s decision to abort instead of birthing would have altered history—at least my history.
A Divisive Problem
The issue of abortion is once again the top news story because the Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to Politico, which received a supposedly leaked copy of the opinion draft. Abortion is a problem that has divided our nation between those who are “pro-life” and those who are “pro-choice.” Personally, I can’t stand the term “pro-choice.” If you are pregnant, the “choice” was made when you decided to do the act that led to the conception. “Pro-life” and “pro-death” are my preferred terms.
Since the Supreme Court decision was leaked, there have been “pro-death” protests at churches, government buildings, and even at the homes of Supreme Court Justices. However, if you read the opinion draft, abortion will not become illegal, but will instead be a decision of each individual state. So, those who are “pro-death” will just be inconvenienced by possibly having to travel to another state to murder their baby. By the way, have you noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born?
A Demonic Practice
Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, there have been over 63 million aborted babies in the U.S. alone. There have been 12 billion abortions worldwide in the last 40 years. America is not the first country to deal with the issue of abortion. The Bible tells us ancient Israel turned away from God; they turned to Baal. They made a bronze idol of Baal. Parents offered up their babies on the idol and watched them be burned alive. Now, it would be hard to find anyone today who would admit to worshipping a false god, but under the spirit of Baal, we have killed over 63 million little babies.
According to the Word of God, abortion is one of the worst murders a human being can commit. About abortion, the Scripture says, “In the secret places doth he murder the innocent” (Psalm 10:8). The “secret place” is the womb of a mother. Definitely, the baby is an “innocent.” No person who is fully aware of another’s total innocence normally kills that other human being. Even wild beasts such as bears, will fight to the death to defend their young. But, today, man has made himself even lower than brute beasts by slaying innocent unborn babies.
Further, the Bible says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). If children are a heritage or reward for parents, abortion destroys God-given rewards.
A Divided People
I am amazed at how many people who claim Christ say they are also for abortion. You cannot be a professing Christian and be for abortion. God says over and over in His Word that life is precious and it begins at conception. God help any Christian who is soft on this issue. Children in the womb are not clumps of cells. They are people. They are sons and daughters. They are innocent of any crime deserving death.
Some may ask: What if a doctor recommends an abortion? There are many cases in which doctors have recommended abortion, yet the mothers delivered perfectly healthy babies. Even if God does give a family a handicapped child, does that make Him any less sovereign or loving? I can’t help but think of Helen Keller and the amazing impact she has had on this world. Every child is precious in the Lord’s sight; God makes no mistakes!
Jesus said, “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me” (Matthew 18:5). Quoting this verse, Mother Theresa, on February 3, 1994, in Washington D.C. at the National Prayer Breakfast with President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary seated to her right, said, “The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because Jesus said, If you receive a little child, you receive Me. So, every abortion is the denial of receiving Jesus, the neglect of receiving Jesus.”
A Divine Pardon
Perhaps someone reading this may be guilty of this great sin in the past. Perhaps you were not aware of the seriousness of this sin. Jesus is gracious and compassionate. Go to the Lord with a broken and contrite heart and deeply repent of your sin. It will be good if you can go to a mature and reliable servant of God for further counseling. That person may guide you in cleaning and freeing your guilty conscience. The Lord will surely forgive you and give you a new heart and a new life.
A Determined Pastor
I understand I will receive hateful, angry emails, phone calls, and letters from those who are “pro-death.” Go ahead. Send them. They will not silence me. God has called me to be His mouthpiece and the Bible says life begins at conception. The Bible says each person on earth has value—that every individual man, woman, and child, even the unborn child, should be treasured.
Human life is a magnificent thing. Every human being, no matter how small, is fearfully and wonderfully made. Every human being, no matter how disregarded, bears the image of God. And every human being, no matter how weak, will keep on living forever.
I, for one, am grateful to a woman named Patricia, who opted for life—my life …