The Texas Abortion Law is really stirring up the Facebook feed. One sarcastic comment from a man I don’t know posed an “impossible” question. Suppose you are in a fertility clinic when suddenly there is a life-threatening fire and you are able to either save an 8-year-old child or a vial of 1,000 embryos. Either or. Which do you choose?
The Impossible Question
The man is trying to expose Christian hypocrisy. Fair enough. Given the choice, he feels most would choose the one child rather than the 1,000 embryos. Why? Because there is more apparent value in the living child than countless embryos, or so he thinks.
I believe, as a Christian, is that it doesn’t matter. Why? Because what happens on this earth is insignificant to what happens after we die. How or when we die is of little importance compared to where we are heading after death. Why? Because there are only two forwarding addresses: heaven or the lake of fire.
I rest comfortably in this based upon the following verse:
And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. Deuteronomy 1:39
This verse goes back to the time of Moses regarding God’s judgment on who would enter the Promised Land. While it is true that it is specific to a time and place, the application has considerable merit with other scripture so that we might hope it to apply to infants, children, and those otherwise incapable of knowledge. The rest of us will be held accountable for our own actions.
Texas Abortion Law
The same would be true for the aborted fetus and destroyed embryo. Might it also apply to an 8-year-old? Perhaps, perhaps not. The bottom line is that God is in control of all things, including a hypothetical fertility clinic fire. While I might save the lives on earth, it matters little in comparison to what happens after death.
Now, to be pinned down to one answer, I would choose to save the 8-year-old over the 1,000 embryos based solely on Deuteronomy 1:39. Might I be wrong? Sure. Would that be sin? No.
The Texas Abortion Law, frankly, doesn’t go far enough with prohibiting abortion after heartbeat. Life begins at inception. Abortion is a willful, premeditated act with the sole purpose to murder an innocent human being for selfish reasons. That is murder, plain and simple.
Made In God’s Image
The human life is far more important to God than we imagine. Why? Because we are made in his image. To take a life apart from due criminal proceedings (Romans 13:1-7) is murder. Our government is without excuse for every single abortion allowed. Furthermore, each of us will be held accountable for our position in this matter, whether or not we had active participation.
What about rape or incest or the life of the mother? Again, all parties will be held accountable come Judgment Day. If I was advising my daughter, I would remind her that conception is ultimately God’s choice. Would having a baby through rape or incest be difficult? Of course. However, it would be far more difficult to obtain pardon for murder come judgment day. As for the life of the mother? This would be a really good time to share the gospel, fully, so the mother and all those involved may come together on such a difficult decision. Who knows, maybe God will grant a miracle!
Lots of Choices
There are lots of choices in life, but only one that has lasting impact. We are all sinful people and will stand guilty come judgment day. The only hope of escaping the lake of fire is the mercy of the judge. The whole point of Jesus coming some 2,000 years ago was to offer to all the opportunity of eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Choose wisely.