Just a few weeks ago, my wife and I were in the doctor's office to hear our baby's heart beat for the first time. What an exciting time, it was great! A few minutes later, as the doctor discussed how strong the heart was, she began talking about our next visit. She said that during that visit it would be possible to take a blood test and determine what, if any, birth defects or tendencies were prevalent. Understand, she said the test was not 100% accurate. She said that if we wanted, we could discuss termination.

Termination? Yes, she was talking about the termination of this baby whose heart beat we had just heard. Can you imagine such? When we said "no" to the very idea of killing our child, the doctor said, "Well, you won't need that test, then."

What a crazy world we live in where in one breath we discuss how exciting it is to hear an unborn child's heart beat, and in the next breath discuss the termination (killing) of this same baby. It hurts just to think about it.

As I thought about the conversation at the doctor's office, I couldn't help but think about what an "easy" society we live in. What do I mean? I mean that if we don't like something, we get rid of it. We have every-thing handed to us almost instantly, and if it is not to our satisfaction, then we dispose of it. Now this may be fine when dealing with something inanimate, or things of that nature, but I wonder how many young couples before us made the decision after hearing the heart beat, that if they found the tendency for problems they would go ahead and dispose of the human life they had made.

Please understand, I didn't have to hear my unborn child's heartbeat to make my decision. I just can't under-stand how after hearing that strong, sound, steady heartbeat, that people could turn around and say, "kill it."

Though some say that the Bible doesn't address such a modem topic as abortion, and whether or not an unborn baby is a human life, I am here to tell you, that it does!

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels (body, NKJV, NASB); and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb (Gen. 25:21-24).

I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonder-fully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them (Ps. 139:14-16, NASB).

Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jer. 1:4-5).

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy (Luke 1:39-44).

These four short readings should be enough to convince the honest and true heart that abortion is the unlawful taking of another human life! There are other passages we could offer as well that would solidify the point we are making, but in conclusion, let us ask ourselves a few questions.

1. Seeing that these men were inspired of God to write what they did (2 Pet. 1:20-21), doesn't it make sense that God is showing us that babies are live, human children though they are not yet born?

2. Isn't it interesting that Dr. Luke (Col. 4:14) chose "babe" to describe John rather than "unviable tissue mass," or "fetus," or "embryo"? A study of history tells us that these people knew all about abortion procedures and the like. In fact, they were more consistent than we are, for they considered a baby "aborted" if they left him to die and be eaten by wolves in his infancy. At least today, those who are pro-abortion will balk if a newborn dies due to the parents' neglect.

3. Before ultrasound, God knew Jeremiah and had set him apart ("sanctified," Jer. 1:4-5). What if God has such plans for those yet unborn today, and we "opt" for "termination"?

4. What if Eve and Mary, the mother of Jesus were pro-abortion?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 16 p. 16-17
August 21, 1997