Life on this old-tired earth can sometimes be hard. We long for better days, for relief from troubles, for joy and lasting peace. But then trouble and adversity come bringing increased pressure and threatens to steal all hope. In times like this we need an anchor!
This morning I am deeply saddened with the outcome of yesterday’s election here in Michigan. Proposition 3 was approved by the electorate and is now a part of the Constitution of the State of Michigan. This new addition to the constitution provides legal protection for a woman to choose to abort her unborn child.
It is hard for me to get my heart and mind around the idea that it is okay to abort an unborn child in a mother’s womb. I especially amazed that some members of the medical community support this “right to choose.” Who should know more about conception, gestation, and birth than doctors and nurses?
But today “the law of the land” gives the “right to choose” to mothers who wish to abort their unborn child. How remarkably sad this is and how revealing to me that we are indeed in a post-Christian culture. The values that made our nation great have been turned on their head and right has become wrong and wrong right.
What is most on my mind this morning is the reality that God has not intervened in answering the prayers of Bible believing Christian in the way we have so fervently asked. As believers in Jesus, we have long been taught that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 And Jesus said in Matthew 7 “Ask, and it will be given you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.” vs. 7
I have taught and believe that there are three ways in which God answers pray: Yes, which is the happy answer; No, the difficult reply; or Wait, your answer is coming in time.
The “no” and the “wait” can be difficult to accept. We can see the righteousness of our petitions and the evil that we are seeking to resist. None the less, we must live with the pain of this decision and believe that God is sovereign in bringing His plan to fulfillment. Remember God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts, as Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Given the challenges of this decision to legalize abortion even until full term, we need to review some common temptations and a few important truths. It is easy to think that God has not heard our prayers, that He has abandoned us in our despair, or that He is too weak to do anything. Such thoughts are unbiblical and must be resisted.
We need to remind ourselves of the following: God is sovereign and has a plan, that His love for us is not diminished, His Word is our textbook on His workings among people, and that evil does not win in the end.
Let’s look to the Word of God to find help and grace in time of need. Psalm 73 is a lament from the pen of Asaph. He begins saying, “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity (success) of the wicked.” vs. 1
“They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.” vs.8-9
Then Asaph says, “But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!” vs. 16-19
The psalmist, having a clearer vision, says, “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. vs. 21-26
Those who desire evil and claim their rights to do as they please, Asaph says, “For behold, those who are far from you shall perish, you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.” vs. 27
“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” vs.28
Yes, yesterday was a sad day for those who love the righteous law of our God. “Thou shall not kill” still stands. Now, let’s see what the righteous Judge of the nations will do. We didn’t get a “no” answer from God. We got to “wait and see the mighty works of God.”
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