It’s About Life
Miriam was 16 years old, pregnant
and unmarried. Her parents wanted her to have an abortion. But, she wanted to
give her unborn baby life! You’ll learn more about her story as you read my
column. Did you know that according to the 1997 data from the Center for
Disease Control 3,250 babies are aborted every day in the
Several years ago I was the spiritual life director at a residential home for unmarried pregnant teenagers and women. One of my greatest joys was sharing Christ with the women who did not know Him and helping those who were Christians grow in their understanding of what Christ had done for them. A large percentage of those who came to live on the campus did not have a relationship with Christ. Others had grown up in a church, but had little knowledge of what Christ had done for them. Hundreds of women lived for a short time or long time on the campus. Many placed their faith in Christ while living there. Many others grew in their faith walk with Christ.
Although there were many things these teenagers and women didn’t know, they did know that they wanted to give their unborn baby life! Some of them choose life, went through an uncomfortable pregnancy and delivery, then released the child into the loving hands of adoptive parents. Others chose to keep their child and raise them.
I learned a lot from these young women. I learned that no matter what age, they loved their baby and wanted what was best for it. That’s why Miriam (names have been changed to protect their identity) decided to release her baby for adoption. She knew that at 16 years of age, she wasn’t able to meet the physical and emotional needs of her child. At one of our weekly Bible studies, she shared, “Please pray for me. Today was the hardest day of my life. I signed the adoption papers today.” A month later she cried during the study while again asking for our prayers. Her daughter had been born healthy and beautiful. That day she had released her to the adoptive parents.
I learned that new or baby Christians can become confused about spiritual matters. We need to begin with the basics and make sure they understand these fundamental teachings before moving on to mature teachings. If we are not careful, they will think they have to do good works to gain salvation, instead of trusting Christ and His works for their salvation.
I also learned that a babe in Christ can be strong and courageous. Take Brandy. She had come to faith in Christ just months before she was in what could have been a deadly car accident. She was in the van with one of the houseparents. Immediately upon seeing that she and the driver were unhurt she declared, “Let’s say a prayer of thanksgiving to God right now for keeping us safe.”
How can you share your faith with those who may be pregnant and unmarried? Remember most of the time you will not know that the young woman is pregnant. She will not tell you! So, make it a priority to speak up for life! Life is precious. Physical life begins in the womb and ends in the tomb. God gives physical life! “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7).
But, physical life is not all that
we need to talk about. Also share the gift of eternal life through Christ.
Eternal life is a free gift (Eph. 2:8,9). Eternal life
involves forgiveness of sins (Acts
It is important to share that God forgives all of our sins. Christ died for all sins, even the sin of aborting our own baby.
Each year Family Shield features several radio programs that educate our listeners about life issues. One of the programs I enjoyed this year was an interview with a woman named Margaret. When she was young she had two abortions. Ten years later she experienced Post Abortion Syndrome. She shared how she attended a Post Abortion Syndrome Bible study. It was during this time that she learned what Christ had done for her. She accepted Christ’s forgiveness. Today she is married to a man studying to be a pastor. Yes, there is healing for those who have had abortions! Margaret and others like her need to hear that God forgives us for the sake of Christ.
But, physical and eternal life is
not all there is! God desires that Christians have an abundant life! “The thief
comes only to steal and kill, and destroy; I came that you might have life, and
might have it abundantly” (John
Kay L. Meyer is the founder and president of
Family Shield Ministries, Inc. and host of its weekly radio program. The
program is heard each Saturday at