Abortion and Amazing Grace

It is estimated that more than 50 million babies have died in their mothers’ wombs in America since the decision of Roe v. Wade more than 40 years ago. This week many Americans are thinking about the sanctity of life—especially unborn life—as Sunday was National Sanctity of Human Life Day and Thursday is the anniversary of the tragedy of Roe v. Wade. In light of this, I wanted to share with you a moving testimony that we received recently. This testimony, given during a Sunday morning church service, highlights how precious life truly is and how the gospel of Jesus Christ can transform hearts and lives.

Today, this third Sunday in January, is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, a day designated to honor and proclaim that all human life has dignity, from conception through the entire life span—until natural death.

We believe God creates human life in His image and each life is sacred. That belief is based on the truth—God's Word. You believe it and I believe it.

But it hasn't always been so for me.

Many years ago, more years than some of you have lived, I was a modern young woman; free to live as I pleased, make my own decisions, do what seemed right in my own eyes—or so I thought.

What was "right" was to live a life the world said was great! The reality was an immoral, impure life of degradation. I was young, foolish, and so very lost.

Over a few years time, I became pregnant twice. Each time I chose to "end the pregnancy." That's the term used when not wanting to face the truth. Yes, I had two abortions.

In my sinful, prideful condition I could see no other options. I gave myself many reasons to do what I did. But my heart knew it was wrong because I couldn't let anyone not involved know—especially my family! What would they think of me? They would KNOW what a horrible person I was! "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18

I made the decision, not allowing myself to think in terms of "baby."

Believing the lie that I could do this and then move on without any consequences, I went on with life, trying to block all thoughts of what I'd done. A couple of years passed; I finished school, had a satisfying career, married a loving man (who knew about my past before we married) and maintained close relationships with family and friends. At a time in life when the world would have said I had it all, inside I was broken, wounded, depressed and felt so empty and wasn't sure why.

I was attending [a church in Missouri] then and hearing God's truth. His Word penetrated my heart and mind. The horror of my sin became real to me and drove me to the Lord; confessing, repenting, and pleading for mercy, forgiveness and salvation.

1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for that truth!

I'll never forget that day. As Psalm 40:2–3 says, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord".  Col. 1:13 says it so well; "He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” How can this be? Only through Jesus' sacrifice in my place.

He did that for me! Holy, Righteous, Merciful God did that! I wouldn't have. I would have thrown me to the dung heap to rot and die. It's what I deserved. But God's ways are not ours. What Satan would have gleefully seen cause my destruction as well as that of my babies, God used to turn my life around.

He healed me spiritually that day, made me a new creation, gave me a new heart, a new song to sing, and eternal life with Him! He removed my guilt and the penalty for it. Psalm 103:12 says He removed my sins as far as the east is from the west. Isaiah 43:25 tells me God blots out my transgressions, FOR HIS OWN SAKE, and remembers them no more! Not so easy for us to do! Romans 8:1–2 tells me I'm not condemned because I am in Christ. John 8:36 tells us "If the Son therefore shall make you free you shall be free indeed." Such mercy and grace truly is too wonderful to understand.

My life has not been the same since that day 37+ years ago. He gave me joy, peace, contentment, and purpose even though the earthly consequences remain. Years have passed and I have been richly blessed by the Lord. But I continued to carry that dark secret locked inside; known only to a very few; fearful that someone would find out; withholding part of myself from relationships and even the Lord.

Then a little over two years ago, broken by unexpressed grief for my children, I once again cried to the Lord for help. Finally ready to surrender everything to Him, I searched for Biblical help and counselling and found it by talking with the Pastor and some of you, and the services of [a ministry].

The past two years have been an intense journey with the Lord. I've been given the opportunity to honor my children and grieve for them so many years after I gave them no thought; to continue the healing that God began more than 37 years ago; to comfort others with the comfort God has given me; and to receive the love of Christ from those with whom I've shared all this--my family, some of my . . . Church family, and the godly people involved with [a ministry]. God is so merciful. How could I or why would I ever stop praising Him?

I still struggle with my past at times and will always have great sorrow over what I did with the precious lives God entrusted to me. But I know God's Word is true—not what I feel. Because I am in Christ nothing will separate me from the love of God I know as did King David that my children are with the Lord and someday I will join them.* Why am I telling you this today of all days? Not to shock or offend; certainly not to cause harm, dissension or be rejected.

I tell you because so many are hurting and in bondage as a result of sin and need to know there is hope, reconciliation, restoration, and abundant life available through Christ; to affirm that all human life is given by God, created in His image and sacred; to openly join the voices that say abortion is a sin against God and an abomination for our nation; to remind us that "all"—not just me, or King David or Rahab or Paul or any of the people God tells us about in His Word, and not just you—but all "have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and “the wages of that sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”—that life includes forgiveness, healing, peace, joy, abundant life now and eternal life with Him.

Jesus died to make that possible. It cost God dearly, but to us it is free. That's how precious, how sacred life is to Our Father, our Creator and our God.

My prayer is that my testimony of what Jesus did for me may bring comfort and hope to anyone—man or woman, young or old—scarred and in bondage by sin and its consequences.

God desires and Jesus made it possible to be reconciled, restored and have life abundant! Life is sacred to God—every life.

I close with this prayer from Jude, “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24–25, ESV).

S.K., Missouri

This testimony should remind us that abortion destroys the life of an unborn person, created in God’s image, and also often results in immense emotional pain for the mother or father who made the choice. We need to show these parents the love, forgiveness, new life, and hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

 

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.

*This sentence is beyond the scope of Answers in Genesis.