If you’re anything like me, the recently unearthed Planned Parenthood details have nauseated, angered, saddened, and frightened you. To think that our nation is willingly permitting such atrocities is truly sickening.
There are right and wrong responses to this grave situation. In my case, God used these undercover videos to wake me up to the plight of thousands of babies in our country. The truth about the sale of their dead bodies only adds to the already-wicked practice of their legalized murder, and yet it took this graphic inside look at the industry to really shake me and motivate me to more intentional action.
Two Biblical Responses
So what are we to do with this information? There are many appropriate ways to respond, some of which I’ve addressed on my personal blog, but in today’s post, I’d like to offer just two.
1. Let the injustice and cruelty of abortion make you rejoice in the justice and compassion of our God.
We know that God is sovereign and in complete control of the universe He created.
“Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it” (Lam. 3:37)?
He is a big God, massive in power that we cannot even comprehend, and yet that same God knows every baby personally. He writes in a book all the days He has planned for each one, before their conception has even happened. The days He has written down include those spent in the womb.
“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).
Even the babies whose tragic fate is abortion sometime during the first 40 weeks of their lives, God has knit together Himself. While it may seem to us that millions of children have died without a soul who cares, in reality, God was there, watching and caring all along.
We also know that God is a God of justice. No sin will go unpunished. Eternal judgement awaits those who shed innocent blood, unless they are reconciled to Christ before they die. God will exercise vengeance on behalf of these helpless little ones.
“O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror” (Ps. 10:17-18).
“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and justice for the poor (Ps. 140:12).
“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute” (Ps. 82:3).
There is only so much that we as individuals can do to be a voice for these defenseless babies. At the end of the day, when our efforts seem in vain, or the forces of evil are overwhelming, we can rest in the knowledge that God will bring about His justice, in His perfect timing, and we can be comforted that these babies did not perish unnoticed by God.
2. Remember that God values caring for the helpless and outcast.
“How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble” (Psalm 41:1).
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).
These and other verses in Scripture make it clear that God values our work on behalf of vulnerable people. When it comes to getting involved in the fight against abortion, our heart must be one that imitates the compassion God has for the helpless. One way to live out the gospel and model Jesus’ selfless love is to give our time and/or resources to these precious unborn children. There are many practical ways to defend life, and not every opportunity fits every person. The point is that God does value and reward our gospel-motivated efforts to reach out to the helpless. And if anyone fits that description, it is an unborn child. Ask God to give you His heart for the helpless, and consider how you can prioritize helping them.
The Eternal Focus
Aren’t you thankful that this corrupt world is not our permanent home? God will not allow these atrocities to go on unpunished forever; one day, every knee will bow before the Creator of life, and those who have been saved from His wrath through Jesus Christ will experience a sinless eternity in His presence. I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
“For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:9b).
