Death No More: A Brief Exhortation on the 40th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade

The incarnation is the miracle of divinity becoming flesh without losing his divinity. Jesus is fully God and fully man. The incarnation is the miracle of birth. Birth, which is despised in our culture, is actually God’s gift for men to replenish the earth with his likeness. The Psalmist refers to children as blessings from God.[1] In a day of fruitlessness, it is only through the ill-conceived desires of men that they should desire more fruitlessness, rather than the blessings of children.

It has now been 40 years since the Supreme Court’s momentous Roe v. Wade ruling by a landslide 7-2 vote on Jan. 22, 1973. The Supreme Court established a nationwide right to abortion. After more than 55 million abortions since then, Christians are still fighting through every means possible to abolish this crusade against the unborn.

We believe that birth begins at conception, but also that birth truly begins in the mind of God. And to take away a life is not merely to commit  crime against mankind, but also against the God of life. This is why we need to speak for life by proclaiming it with our own lives, and by being outspoken, not only in word, but in deed, on behalf of the unborn. We need to give of our monies, and to set time aside to pray that God would change the hearts of young women who are confused and often plagued by unbelief, that they would bring life into the world, and not destroy it.

History has not been kind to children. No wonder Jesus’ statement in the gospels is such a reversal of the ancient, wicked practices when he said:

“Let the children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.”

The Incarnation is the reversal of barbaric practices; practices, which still continue to this day, but which will one day be abolished from earth by the power of the gospel.

We remember on this anniversary of Roe v. Wade that our Lord Jesus came for such as these. He came that little ones might have life and life more abundantly. As George Grant ably summarizes:

The Gospel therefore came into the world as a stern rebuke. God, who is the giver of life (Acts 17:25), the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9), and the defender of life (Psalm 27:1), not only sent us the message of life (Acts 5:20) and the words of life (John 6:68), He sent us the light of life as well (John 8:12).  He sent us His only begotten Son—the life of the world (John 6:51)–to break the bonds of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54-56).

Let us Pray:

Most merciful and tender Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, on this day we are reminded of the sacredness of life. We are reminded that life is precious because You have declared it precious. We pray for the reversal of Roe v Wade. We pray that abortion clinics in this country, here in Florida, be put out of business because of the prayers and protest of your people. Restore our society to a vision of life. Remind our culture that no one has the authority to terminate the life of the unborn. Do not forget your promises, O God. But be speedy to help us and to reverse the ugliness and misery of a culture of death.

We are especially grateful for the love you have given us for children in this congregation. May this love increase each day. May our lives be testimonies to the blessings of children and the joys of nurturing them in truth. O, Triune God, may death no more reign, but may life be the theme of your ever increasing kingdom, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.