"Live as God Intends"

Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” This verse is telling us that we rely too heavily on our own wisdom, our own way, rather than turning in humility and submission to God’s wisdom - His way. When we as human beings apply our own wisdom to this life and reject God’s wisdom for living it always leads to death - ruin - problems.

On the issue of abortion that is exactly where we are today. We are rejecting the way of God and following our own way. Abortion is human wisdom. It is our answer to a situation we don’t want to deal with. But the answer we have chosen is in direct contradiction to God’s truth, so there is only way place it can lead us to and that is to death.

The writer of this proverb did not specifically have in mind abortion when he wrote this verse, but it certainly applies to abortion and not just because with every abortion a life is ended, but because man is so clearly following his own way when it comes to this issue.

We see man’s wisdom when we refuse to be consistent with our logic. Man’s wisdom leads us to operate on an unborn child in the womb to help them and at the same time that same “logic” is used abort an unborn child for any reason at all. We see man’s wisdom when we use the technology we now have to look so clearly into the womb with 3D ultrasounds and yet reject what we see with our own eyes. We see man’s wisdom in a law that prohibits the killing of the bald eagle, including the unhatched eggs of the bald eagle. The reason being that we logically know that the unhatched egg of the bald eagle contains a bald eagle. To destroy the unhatched egg of the eagle would be like killing an eagle already hatched. Yet if in our wisdom we know that the unhatched eagle needs protection why then don’t we protect the unborn child? We know that eagle eggs are just unhatched eagles, but why don’t we apply this same logic to human beings? The truth is that every time a woman (a human being) is pregnant she gives birth to another human being. Just like all the rest of God’s creation reproducing in relation to itself. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

God’s wisdom tells us that God is the creator of all life - making all life sacred. Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” You can also find this truth in Psalm 139:13-16 which says, “For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God’s wisdom tells us children are a gift from Him. Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” God could have devised any way He wanted to populate this world. He is creative enough to have done it in any number of ways we can think of and any number of ways we cannot fathom, but He chose to do it through a man and a woman - who become husband and wife and who then are provided with the blessing of children.

We should turn to God’s wisdom in humility and submission, because God’s wisdom leads to our and our wisdom leads to death. When God speaks - we need to listen. When God devises a plan - we need to follow it. When God instructs - we need to obey.

I write this not to cause you pain or guilt or to make you feel worthless or to demean you in any way. All of us have made choices that are against God’s wisdom and when we do God is gracious and loving and kind enough to forgive us for such choices when we seek Him. There is nothing that God cannot forgive. There is nothing that God does not forgive. God can and does forgive us for our past choices even in this area of pre-born life. If you are needing further assistance the Ogallala Women’s Resource Center is available to you to help you address any such needs. They confidentially and supportively walk with you through all such issues of life. You can reach them at 308-284-3700 or through their website at www.ogallalawrc.com.

The Word is a gift from God, unwrap it page by page.

Pastor Curtis Tschetter