Proof That Our Conscience Has Been Seared
*WARNING: graphic content
"Why didn't someone do something?"
Those five words still haunt my thoughts today.
Sometime ago, I sat speechless as I listened to a man recount his trip to a holocaust museum with his young daughter. As they walked by photos of the death camps and gas chambers, his daughter silently contemplated the horrors that were unfolding before her eyes.
When the tour ended, they drove home without saying a word. The father wondered if she truly understood the significance of the event. Was she too young to view such depravity? Was she too fragile to cope with the truth of the holocaust? Would it make a negative impact on her life? Would it leave her fearful and wounded? Would she begin to doubt God?
His questions were answered nearly two hours later when his daughter finally spoke. She looked at her father and asked, "Daddy, why didn't someone do something?"
Will we hear those same haunting words from our children and grandchildren? Yes! If we fail to contend for what is right, we may see a time in our history when our children will ask, "Why didn't someone do something?" Sadly, we may not be able to answer.
There are legislators who support partial-birth abortion, even when the life of the mother is not at risk. Partial-birth abortion is a process where an unborn, often healthy, baby's body is delivered feet first, often near full term, until only the head remains inside the womb. The head remains in the womb so that the abortion is not considered murder. Once a baby is fully delivered, his/her life cannot be terminated. The physician then punctures the back of the child's skull with a sharp instrument and removes the child's brains before delivering the dead baby.
There are also those who support D & E (dilation and evacuation) abortions and saline abortions. During a D & E abortion, a large crushing instrument is inserted into the uterus. The physician grabs the baby with this instrument and pulls off pieces (limbs) until he or she is completely removed from the mother. During a saline abortion, a salt solution is injected into the mother's sac for the baby to swallow. Once swallowed, the baby begins to experience a violent, slow death — so violent that the mother can actually feel the baby in her womb fighting for his or her life. God help us.
Approximately 23 years ago, as a prodigal, I conceded to my girlfriend's request to abort our child around the 5th week. The pain of that decision still haunts me today. What would they look like? Was it a boy or a girl? I can picture walking and talking with my child ... watching his or her first steps ... holding them when they cry and rejoicing with them when they succeed. But these are just dreams in my mind; dreams that often leave me heartbroken. Regret is one of the hardest pains because it is a constant reminder that we failed ... failed God, others, and the aborted child.
This article was extremely difficult for me to write, but I cannot, and will not, remain silent. There is a reason why "mother," "baby," and "abort" have been changed to "a woman's right to choose"; it's a marketing ploy designed to hide a brutal practice.
The purpose of this article is to also offer hope to those who've had an abortion, and to motivate pastors to speak the truth.
"From the formation of a child's first tiny cell to life's final breath, all life has dignity and value because each and every one of us is made in the image of God" (Focus on the Family).
How can we undo the emotional pain that we experience from abortion?
Jeremiah 29:13 has been a great comfort to me, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
Don't allow past brokenness to cause future pain. Scripture is very clear: We are to forget those things that are behind us and focus on those things ahead.
We hear a great deal about God's judgment and what can keep us from heaven, and rightly so, because "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). But we also need to reflect on God's goodness, love, mercy, and grace. The important question to ask is what is the condition of your heart ... has true repentance and a belief in Christ as Lord and Savior taken place?
Jesus healed my brokenness and restored my life, and He can do the same for you. If you take only one thing from this article I hope that it is this: There is a deep longing inside all of us that cannot be satisfied until we recognize our need for a Savior, repent of our sin, and turn to Him.
Once this occurs, your past is forgiven, your present secure, and your future certain. Through Christ, you are a brand new person. If you truly grasp hold of this truth, it can motivate and encourage you beyond measure. Though the road ahead may be uncertain at times, the solid ground beneath will never shift. It's all about Who you know.