Choose Life

It seems like no matter where we go or who we run into everyone is so amazed at what we’re doing for our son Jacob. Whether it’s the doctors or the nurses or the social worker or the person down the street… everyone has continually said how astonished that they are that we have him home and how we’re loving him and caring for him. This is somewhat strange to us… he’s our son… how else would we treat him?
Strange until you realize the sad state of the world we live in today. I spoke with a neonatologist who said that more often than not children with a condition like Jacob’s are often given up for adoption or left in the hospital until they die. That is of course, she said, if they even make it that far since many women don’t “choose to carry them to term.” How’s that for a politically correct saying? Karen read a statistic this week that said that only 20-40% of women who know their child has a genetic flaw choose to give birth to that child. In other words, 60-80% of women choose to kill their child rather than deal with a child who may be inconvenient, painful, or less than “perfect.” How sad is that? For those of you who have traveled this road with us to this point, and have seen how Jacob’s life has impacted ours, yours and other’s lives, you know how incredibly sad that is. That means there were that many more people who could have been impacted by little lives like Jacob’s who missed out on the blessing that you yourselves have witnessed and been a part of.
I in no way want to use Jacob as a billboard or a tool for any one cause (other than the kingdom of God), but I can’t help but think how his one little life has so positively affected thousands of people’s lives and the same could be true for millions of others but they were never given the chance. They were “incompatible with life” or “incompatible with my life” so they were thrown away. Literally. If you think that abortion should be a legal practice I strongly urge you to see it, know it and still try to defend it. Go to http://www.abort73.com/ and see it for what it truly is. I warn you… this is a truthful depiction of what happens and contains many graphic facts and videos (don’t watch it with children around!) It will change you forever. I can’t imagine for one second choosing that over the incredibly blessed time that we’ve had with our beautiful little miracle. And yet day in and day out that is the suggested course of action by thousands of medical professionals in our country.
I see all the news about the coming election and I think… “what should we vote for?” A good economy? Better “health care?” Security? Shouldn’t LIFE be the driving force or our belief system? Job 12:10 says, “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Isaiah 42:5 says, “This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.” Life is a gift from God and thus should be treasured and protected.
Who gets to make the decision as to who should live and who shouldn’t? What defect warrants death and which genetic disorder should be allowed to live? It reminds me of the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery in John 8. “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”
They all had faults… they had all sinned (Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”). So they all left her alone because they could not condemn her to death when they themselves had also committed sin. Don’t we all have some defect? Don’t some have bad skin or poor eyesight or bad coordination? Does that make the life God has given them worth any less? Is the person who lives 100 years worth more than the one who lives only 100 days? Does God have less of a purpose for Jacob than He does for others? I don’t think so. “Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” What a glorious day it will be when all of our children are given the same chance at new life.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8, 6:23).

" This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)