Gazing Over the City
The recent overturning of Roe vs. Wade by the Supreme Court ended the half century decision that allowed for abortions across the United States. Now, with the overturning of that case, the constitutional right to an abortion no longer exists. As a follower of Christ, this decision was a remarkable validation for affirming the protection of the most innocent; those babies in the womb whose lives were on the chopping block. I never thought I’d live to see this day and here we are.
I must admit, although I was in favor of this decision made on June 24, my heart was so heavy that day. The outbursts that followed that decision from those who felt women’s rights had been taken away, or that women would not receive proper healthcare in the case of life or death, or simply those proclaiming that we Christians were shoving our “mythical book” down their throat, grieved me so deeply. I don’t see this as a religious decision, but a decision for life. I was burdened for all the rhetoric spewed forth and it made my heart sad that as a country we are so divided.
During the day, I couldn’t get my mind off of a passage from the gospels. Here is the passage from Luke 19:41-44 (The Message)
When the city came into view, He wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”
Jesus was entering Jerusalem not long before His crucifixion. He looked over the city, and He wept. Not because of what was to come for Him, but what would come for Jerusalem. The people didn’t see that Jesus was the true Prince of Peace come to save the world. Jesus knew the future judgment to come to Jerusalem. In less than forty years, the Roman legion would destroy Jerusalem and kill over one million people in the process. Jesus knew that was coming.
I like The Message version here as it says “they’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement.” Jesus wept over the city because of what was to come due to their lack of belief in Him. All day on June 24 that’s all I could think about. Jesus gazing over our country, weeping, knowing that judgment will come. I was burdened for those who don’t have the hope of a Savior, those who cried out that God is not real and the Bible isn’t truth. I felt a small tinge of what Jesus felt gazing over Jerusalem.
There are many things we need to do as a society and country to help women that find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. From crisis centers that direct them to alternatives other than abortion to support for those that decide to keep and raise their child, I believe that is what the Lord would call us to do in response to this decision. I know abortion isn’t the answer and here is one reason why.
Years ago I counseled a young college-aged girl. She was an only child, like myself, but did not have a good relationship with her parents. I wasn’t sure if she was a follower of Christ or not, but knew she was seeking something. In our conversations, it became known to me that a few years earlier she had found herself pregnant. After telling her Mom, she decided to abort the baby and her Mom agreed to take her to the procedure. To that day, the whole encounter haunted her. After she had the abortion, she struggled with the emotions and guilt of what she did. In expressing this anguish to her Mom, a confession from her Mom turned the tides of their relationship. Her Mom told her she, too, had an abortion, before her daughter was born. The girl was crushed to find this out and not know about the abortion prior to her own decision to abort her child. This young girl asked me a question that haunts me to this day, “Rose, if my Mom had an abortion, and knew the emotions it generated, and how it made her feel, why did she let me go through with it?” I had no answer. I talked with her through the pain and encouraged her to get counseling with a local pregnancy center that specializes in ministering to those that have endured abortion. There is forgiveness and hope and she needed to hear that more than anything else.
When I hear the chants that as women we’ve lost control of our bodies, I want to remain quiet lest I say something I’ll regret. But, that’s why I have a blog - to express my emotions and feelings. Newsflash: None of us have control over our bodies. If we did, we’d not allow cancer or any sickness to take over our bodies. If I had control over my body, I wouldn’t have lost my leg in December. The One who created us has ultimate control over our bodies. We live in a broken and sinful world where there is sickness, cancer, and amputation. When Jesus returns, everything will be made right, and our bodies will be whole. Until then, we operate in broken bodies that begin their decay the moment after we take our first breath. Do you realize that the time we truly “grow” the most is in our mother’s womb? Once we’re born, our bodies grow, but we begin the trajectory of growing older and our bodies wearing out.
I don’t know where you land on the spectrum of this recent decision. Please know wherever you land, I love you, and more importantly God loves you. He may weep as He gazes upon the sinfulness of this land, but He gazes upon you, His most marvelous creation and rejoices in your life…and all life from the womb to the tomb.