The value of life seems to be diminishing more and at greater rate than at any other time in our history.  This lack of value permeates the news in a vast number of ways including life in both humans and animals.  The cause of this has been attributed to a number in changes in societal behaviors, but without a doubt, the greatest factor in reducing the value of life would have to be failure to honor and respect the word of God as a guide for our lives.  Paul wrote to Timothy “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” This leaves no room for our own wisdom as a means of guiding us.

What do the scriptures teach regarding life?  Perhaps the greatest lesson is God, not some sequence of chance events, is the source of life.  The beginning of scripture describes the very process our Creator used as He made us in His own image and then goes on to show how He cared for His creation (Genesis 2:7-9).  Another lesson reveals that human life is valuable to God and as such should be considered so by men as well.  In Psalm 8, David asked what it was about man that God would care for him and be mindful of him.  In Matt 6:26, Jesus told His followers how valuable we were by a comparison with wildlife.  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and {yet} your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”  Again, in Matt 12:11-12, Jesus uses a lamb to teach the same lesson.  Ironically, the punishment of life for a life in the old law is in response to the value of the life that was wrongfully taken.  Again, in the scriptures we see that God is concerned about protecting and defending “innocent blood” (cf. Deut 19:10 and Prov 6:16-17).  The life of an unborn child is given by God, it is priceless and it is to be defended as innocent.  It’s God’s will.  He has made it known to us in His word and we would do well to heed Him!  What will you do?

Copyright © 2010, Nolan P. Rutter