Information Related to "That They May Have Life!"
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This is the Way... That They May Have Life!by Robin WebberThis past month two major items collided in one week to once again bring the abortion controversy front and center. President Barack Obama, a pro-choice advocate, spoke at the well-known Catholic University of Notre Dame, while at the same time amazing results from a Gallup poll concerning abortion were released. What took many by surprise is that such a notable university, sponsored by a church with such strong pro-life beliefs, would welcome a politician who openly promotes his opposing views. Many Catholic officials publicly denounced the event, boycotting the speech or joining in demonstrations leading up to the commencement address. What's happening out there?While protests were occurring on Notre Dame's campus, the respected Gallup organization released a poll showing that, for the first time since 1995, a majority of Americans (51 percent) consider themselves "pro-life" when it comes to the issue of basic human rights for infants in the womb. It is an astonishing statistic considering the daily onslaught of secular humanistic education, media jargon and a pervasive entertainment industry that speaks of the gift of life in terms of "reproductive rights," "a woman's right to choose" and trivializes the unborn by using the pitiful description of "fetal tissue." The percentages have abruptly swung upward by 6 percent in just a year to give a majority status—though ever so slim—to those who affirm the sanctity of life in the womb. What's happening out there? It wasn't supposed to be this way in 2009, was it? Perhaps people are beginning to finally take notice of the grim statistic that 3,700 babies are aborted every day—just in the United States. That grim statistic multiplies to 1.3 million a year. Let's put it this way. That would be like every resident of San Diego, America's seventh largest city, receiving a death sentence to be carried out within one year. How are we supposed to go on as a mature society as this holocaust of the womb systematically goes on day by day, life by life in quiet, sterile clinics? Open-minded or closed-life?In his address to the Notre Dame graduates, President Obama said, "No matter how we want to fudge it, the fact is at some level, the views of the two camps [pro-life and pro-choice] are irreconcilable," but he implored the graduates "to stop reducing those with differing views to caricature." He went on to say, "Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words. It's a way of life that has always been the Notre Dame tradition." Such words sound noble until you recognize that the same people who proclaim their big-mindedness and mature pro-choice worldview are those who were given the privilege to live at birth. The president speaks of "fudging it," but what's being discussed is more than simply a trite political issue; it's a life that is being shaped from its earliest embryonic inception, developing scientifically proven intelligence as the embryo begins to take on the features of his or her parents. Ahead of President Obama's address, there were incidents of civil disobedience protesting the president's invitation. Among those arrested was a lady named Norma McCorvey. You may simply know her as "Roe," as in the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion as a federal guarantee. What an amazing turnaround for this lady to now be at odds with this landmark decision! One often cannot go back and change the past, but it is always possible to move forward and touch the future. How important is life to you?But the question is not where the Notre Dame student body stands or, for that matter, where the president or even Norma McCorvey stands. Allow me to get personal. The big question is, Where do you stand when it comes to matters of life and death for a little one? Have you given it much thought? How you answer the matter will speak volumes as to whether you believe your life on earth is an accident or is by design. Did you realize that the Creator of the universe shares in His holy Word when life begins, what your existence is all about and the family relationship He desires with you? The philosopher René Descartes proclaimed, "I think, therefore I am." But what preceded all those thoughts bumping around in your head? The Bible describes you as a creation patterned after no less than the Maker Himself. Genesis 1:26-27 states, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Can we come to appreciate that we are not simply the new and improved product of two prehistoric lovesick amoebas bumping into one another in a slimy pond given a jolt of life by some photosynthetic happening? That explanation may work for you, but it doesn't for me. A peek within the wombGod continues throughout the Bible to describe His involvement with humans from our very earliest stages. He literally gives us a peek within the womb! The patriarch Job illustrates how God, the Master Designer, "made me in the womb" (Job 31:15). Likewise, God reminded the prophet Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you" (Jeremiah 1:5). The New Testament records that the one who became John the Baptist leaped for joy in the womb in response to his mother, Elizabeth, meeting Mary the mother of Christ (Luke 1:36,41-44). Does this sound like simply clinical fetal tissue? Think about it! Aren't you happy your mother believed in carrying you to full term to allow you to be the incredible vehicle of life that God intended? Today, as you read this article, you may be looking for answers—not just information. You may be wondering what to do with that little one tucked inside of you. Perhaps you didn't plan to be pregnant, but suddenly you've found out that you are. There may be all sorts of seemingly "fair and open-minded" reasons coming your way from your mate, family and friends appealing to momentary convenience rather than realities that literally touch on eternity. Words like: "Not now, perhaps another time." "You aren't seriously thinking about having this baby, are you?" "C'mon, I'll pay for it." If you are not rooted in a value system based on the sanctity of life, I can appreciate how you might consider aborting a child. But wait a minute! Let me say this. Children are never easy, and it won't be convenient. Yes, it will take incredible life-altering sacrifice in some cases. Today even with the recent swing in the polls, let's face it—we do not live in a child-friendly society. Rather, we live in a frenetic, me-me-me-based society with a remote- control mentality of "been there, done that—so let's just move on." The apostle Paul nearly 2,000 years ago prophesied such a time in 2 Timothy 3:1-4: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." Wait a minute!You might be saying, "Wait a minute. I thought this was some kind of prophecy magazine devoted to times, personalities, the rise and fall of kingdoms, and the return of Jesus Christ." Yes, it is. But at the same time prophecy and the truths of the Bible are not simply designed to inform or momentarily inspire, but to literally transform our existence. The Bible describes a love affair that Jesus had with life and all living. He loved them both young and old. Remember how He chided the disciples who thought He was too busy to be bothered with children (Matthew 19:13-15)? His "handlers" didn't think He had the time, because of His busy schedule. Christ put children first! And why not? The preincarnate Christ of the Old Testament declared through the writings of David, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3). God has something to say tooThe Lord, the Word described in John 1:1-3, known now to you and me as Jesus Christ, inspired the prophets of old with a "child-friendly" vision of the coming Kingdom of God planted on this earth. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a world in which, "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days...for the child shall die one hundred years old" (Isaiah 65:20). The essence of this scripture conveys a full and uninterrupted term of life for those made in God's image and likeness being molded toward eternity to be the immortal children in the family of God. This same prophet speaks of a God-prepared society in the future in which "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6). Amazing! Consider the contrast. God's future society is prophesied to create a safe world for little ones to thrive. When you think about it, what God is telling us is that it will be safer for a child to be with a lion than some infants are in their mothers' wombs today. Zechariah 8:5 offers a prophetic glimpse into the street life of the wonderful world tomorrow under Christ in which the "streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets." How different from today's secularized Western civilization in which societies like Italy, Russia and Germany are experiencing plunging birthrates due to lifestyle choices that don't even replenish their present numbers. The availability and the choice of abortion is a factor in this determination. But this column is more than simply about graduation speeches, changing poll numbers and prophecies about a future better world. Prophecy is also about you today. It is about how you will receive the words of God and make a difference by living the Kingdom of God experience in today's world. Life becomes much easier when you are consistent with your values. You won't have to constantly be going back to square one and asking, "What will I do?" So to whom do you listen? Who has your ear? I recommend focusing on one personality and one alone. He is the One who always gives us one invitation. It is simply, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19; 9:9; John 21:19). His words resonate with the admonition of "this is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). His words remind us and encourage us. They show why He came into our darkened world and saved us from a self-aborted existence apart from our Heavenly Father. He summarizes the benefit of following Him in our most important life choices with His wisdom by this simple encouragement: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). WNP
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