All Life is Sacred

We should value all life as precious.

The song you just heard is called "I Will Carry You." It was written by a couple who learned, as a result of an ultrasound, that their baby daughter Audrey, had several conditions incompatible with life. Her lungs were not developing and her kidneys couldn't function because there was an absence of amniotic fluid around her.

But the couple, Todd and Angie Smith, decided to carry their baby Audrey to full term and care for her until God called Audrey home. To everyone's surprise, Audrey (with her bright red hair) was born and lived a miraculous two and 1/2 hours. It was evident to everyone present that she was breathing and alive. The Smith's twin daughters got to meet Audrey and love on her before she passed. They took over a thousand photos, and their story has inspired thousands to trust God. http://www.surebaby.com/blog/2008/06/05/in-honor-of-babies-audrey-caroline-gregory-luke/

Their story causes us to reflect on the precious value of life. In ancient times, roses were a symbol of love and beauty. White roses are a symbol of purity and innocence. Every life is precious to God-- born and unborn.

Human life is the ultimate expression of God's creativity, power, and love.

In creation, human life is the ultimate expression of God's creativity, power, and love. Genesis 2:7 (NIV) says, "...the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Job 33:4 (NIV) says, "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." From start to finish, life is a gift from God's hand! It is not a gift of chance biochemical processes, but a gift of God! In Genesis 1:26 God even creates man in his own image and likeness. This is a topic we will explore in depth next week.

Consider the truth of Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV). "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."

Notice how intimately God is involved in the birth process! God knits us together just as he knit the heavens and earth together. He ordains our days from beginning to end. The words of Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) are just as true for the born as for the unborn. " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "

In the beginning, life flourished uninterrupted by sin and death. When God created the creatures of the sea and the birds, he saw that they were good, and he blessed them, and said in Genesis 1:22 (NIV), "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and the let the birds increase on the earth." And when God created livestock and creatures that move along the ground, he said in Genesis 1:28 (NIV), "Be fruitful and increase in number..." Not only is God the author of life, but he who creates life ordains us to be fruitful and increase. Our God is a life-giving God!

Our God is a life-giving God.

When I was younger, I used to sit on the banks of mighty Horse Creek and fish for hours. When the fishing was slow, I would kick back in the warm sun and admire the colorful birds, dragon flies, banana spiders, and muskrats-- even the snakes! The creek bed was always teaming with life!

But one day, a boy from our neighborhood showed up with his pellet gun. He made it a sport to shoot every living thing that moved along the ground, in the water, or in the air. Each day he would shoot dozens of frogs and birds. But then one day he offered me his pellet gun and encouraged me to take a few shots. With each shot, he would roar with laughter, exclaiming, "Isn't that cool?" But it wasn't. I quickly discovered that even our conscience bears witness to the sanctity of life. Who was I to take what God had created, and destroy it for my pleasure?

In the beginning, death wasn't part of God's intention. This is why, in the middle of the garden of Eden, God planted the tree of life. It was placed there as a provision for Adam and Eve. See Genesis 2:9. As we reach back into Genesis 1, we discover prior to the fall of man, not even animals were to be killed or taken as food!

In Genesis 1:29-30 (NIV) God says, " 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move along the ground-- everything that has the breath of life in it-- I give every green plant for food.' And it was so."

God's perfect creation was disrupted by Adam's sin.

It wasn't until Adam sinned, that death disrupted God's perfect creation. Throughout the scriptures, we discover that death is the inevitable consequence of sin. In 1 Corinthians 15:56 we're told that, "The sting of death is sin..." Romans 6:23 (NIV) tells us that, "...the wages of sin is death....." The moment we sin, we crack open the door to death. From the moment we sin, we begin reaping the consequences. Of course, the ultimate wage of sin is death.

This principle is illustrated in Genesis 3:21 when God sheds the blood of a animal, and fashions a garment of skin to cover Adam and Eve's guilt and shame.

This principle is illustrated in Genesis 4:8 when Cain becomes jealous of his brother Abel and kills him in a fit of rage. In Genesis 4:10-12 (NIV) the LORD questions Cain, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

Again, notice the destructive power of sin-- how simple anger and jealousy quickly leads to death! But also notice the high regard that God has for life! First, God sheds the blood of an animal in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness. And now, when Cain expresses his fear that someone may kill him too, the Lord says in Genesis 4:15 (NIV), "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over."

Notice how time and again, God makes a provision for human life! What does it tell you when God values life so much that he would offer his protection, even to someone like Cain?

What is your attitude about the sanctity of life?

All of these things should cause us to reflect on our belief about the sanctity of life. What is your attitude about life? Is every life precious? Do you believe that every life is a gift from God? Is every life worth protecting? Should the value of a single life be diminished for any reason?

For the scientists, for the evolutionists, there is no sanctity of life. There is only less complex and more complex life. There is more perfect and less perfect life. The only sacred life, if any, is that which is becoming endangered or extinct. And the culture at large believes much as the scientists believe.

• Our culture advocates euthanasia, or doctor assisted suicide for the elderly who are suffering with terminal illnesses. Suffering and quality of life trumps the sanctity of life.

• Our culture advocates abortion for unborn babies who may be facing the prospect of living in poverty, living with a disease like AIDS, living with a diminished mental capacity, or living with a physical defect, such as spina bifida. And it doesn't stop there. Our culture advocates abortion if the baby poses a threat to the lifestyle or freedom of the mother. You heard me! And lately, our society considers abortion if the baby poses a threat to the environment! If you pay attention, it is being taught that one of the least eco-friendly sins we can commit is to have a baby. Over their lifetimes, babies leave behind an enormous carbon footprint. Some countries, like China, have even instituted a one-child policy, with mandatory abortions to reduce crowding and competition for limited resources.

• Our culture advocates stem-cell research-- expending a baby's life to develop cures and to relieve the suffering of others.

• Our culture advocates advances in reproductive medicine like in vitro fertilization. This is a procedure where multiple eggs are fertilized and frozen, then implanted in the mother's uterus. There are Christian organizations that rescue unwanted embryos and matches them with couples unable to conceive. Then the unused embryos are not discarded. Other "advances" include the morning after pill.

• Then there is the issue of capital punishment, and whether we should we utilize any form of punishment if there is even a remote chance that an innocent person's life might be taken?

In the beginning, things were simple, and God's commands were simple. You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery. But then sin entered God's perfect creation. And suddenly, the command that was black and white took on a hundred shades of gray. What if this, what if that?

Allow me to share some convictions about life, and about God's desire to redeem us from the power of death.

Let God's word sensitize your conscience.

First, we need to let God's word sensitize our consciences. Every day we are bombarded with godless, false ideas that are designed to muddy our consciences and obscure the sanctity of life. The fundamental principle that should shape all of our moral decisions is that life is sacred. Nothing negates the sanctity of life-- no disease, no deficiency, no disorder, and no political decree. God creates us to enjoy life, and to be fruitful and multiply. I like what John Stott says in his book, Social Involvement. "We have no liberty to introduce death into a situation in which it does not exist or is not threatened." Social Involvement, Vol II, p. 209.

We must declare war against those sins that give rise to death.

Second, we must declare war against those sins that give rise to death. For example, some beat up on an unwed mother for having an abortion. Well, behind every unwed mother is an irresponsible male who is unwilling to fulfill a vow to a woman. What are we doing about it? Adultery and fornication are so commonplace, we hardly raise an eyebrow anymore. We have parents who tolerate promiscuity in their sons and stand idly by as their daughters are taken advantage of by irresponsible, adolescent males. There is plenty of blame to spread around, but that's not the point.

The issue is what we can do to raise up responsible, kingdom minded men who refuse to compromise a woman, for sheer pleasure. We should raise men will not force a woman into such a horrifying circumstance in the first place! If we don't like death, we need to stand against those sins that lead up to death.

We're often abhorred by the death occurring along the border with Mexico. Yet, there many sit in the comfort of their living rooms, with a marijuana joint in their mouths, watching reports on CNN about the murderous drug cartels killing women and children! The cartels are shedding blood to feed your addiction! They are shedding blood for your dollars. It's our duty to confront those things that give rise to a culture of death!

We need to learn to speak truth to power.

Third, we need to learn to speak truth to power. We cannot retreat. We have to speak to the ethical complexities of modern science, challenge the arrogance of politicians, challenge the foolishness of our children and wayward spouses, confront the drug user, and confront the irresponsibility that feeds our culture of death. And we have to use every tool at our disposal-- the internet, books, music, art, television, cable, and satellite-- to challenge our lackadaisical attitudes about life.

We need to offer mercy and grace to those who are trapped in sin.

Fourth, we need to come alongside those who are trapped in sin, and offer mercy and grace. It's not enough to speak truth. We must offer ourselves in love. Our goal is not condemnation; it's redemption and restoration. John 3:17 (NIV) is our template. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." We accomplish little by slinging insults. God came to save us from our sins, and save us from death. Cain committed murder, yet God showed him grace. Moses murdered an Egyptian, but God showed him grace. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, then had her husband killed on the field of battle, but God had mercy on him. Saul gave his approval as Stephen was stoned, but God had mercy and appointed Paul to his service!

God's power goes beyond creation of life.

God isn't just powerful to create life. He is powerful to redeem us, he is powerful to forgive our most heinous crimes against life, and he is powerful to free us from accusation, whether true or false, and reconcile us to himself.

Paul, in Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV) speaks to God's power to transform our lives. "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."