The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Jack H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Sanctitiy of LIfe
Four thousand abortions happen everyday in the U.S. Fifty million abortions have taken place in the United States, and they have been justified by arguments that the baby is not human or that having a child is not in the best interest of the mother. The modern world has been inoculated toward the idea of abortion. Somewhere along the line, the fetus has become a "lump of cells" instead of a baby. With the loss of respect for the Bible has come a loss of respect for human life that is evident in God's word. Jeremiah 1:4-5 and Isaiah 49:1 and 5 talk about how God formed us in our mother's womb. Before we were born, before we even came into existence, God had a plan for us. Jesus and John the Baptist were both "appointed" for tasks before they were born. How can a lump of cells be appointed to do something? God's desire to preserve life is prevalent throughout the Bible. The commandment, "You shall not murder" shows up repeatedly in the early books of the Old Testament. In Exodus 21, the Lord went as far as to say that if a pregnant woman is struck during a fight, and the baby is still born, then the individual receives the same punishment as a murderer. Murder can only be committed against another human. In Leviticus, The punishment for sacrificing your baby is death. We are commanded to defend those being led to slaughter, and to protect innocent life (Proverbs 24:11, 31:8-9). It is clear that the Lord values human life.
Jesus' ministry was continually improving human life. He healed the sick, he made the blind see, and the lame walk. He did not just do this to impress people, but because human life is valuable to Him. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us that we are God's temple, that our lives represent Him, and that He lives in us. To God, each human has the potential to become one of His adopted children (Ephesians 1:5) and spend eternity with Him in heaven. We are all His creation who He cherishes and loves.
Assisted suicide is an often debated topic. When someone is disabled or in a coma, and their quality of life seems inferior to a normal person, the argument is often made that they would not want to live like this, or that it would be better for everyone if we just "ended their misery". What if Jesus took this approach? What if when the lame man was lowered through the ceiling to be presented to Jesus, Jesus said, "Well, I think that you're too much of a burden on society and the men who brought you, so I am going to kill you to ease the burden of your family and community."? It would have contradicted everything that the Bible teaches. Isaiah 45:11 sums up quite nicely what the Lord thinks about people questioning whether someone should live or die, "Thus says the Lord , the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: 'Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?'" Do not question the Lord's plans.
Sometimes it seems hopeless. It seems that the people and organizations which promote murder and destruction just keep prospering and growing. Why has the Lord not destroyed them? Why does He allow these detestable practices to continue? Is He not watching? Has he forgotten? The answers are that yes he is watching, and no, he has not forgotten. "But you have enraged me with all these things, therefore, behold, I have returned your deeds upon your head, declares the Lord God…" Ezekiel 16:43. God will respond to the atrocities of today just as He responded to the child sacrifice of generations past. As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to fight for the innocent and protect human life. In Ezekiel 33 God tells Ezekiel to tell the wicked person of his sins, so that when the Lord kills him, the blood will not be on Ezekiel's hands. Ezekiel couldn't change whether the wicked person would repent, he only needed to do what was asked, to speak the truth, and let God take care of the rest. The Lord's timing is different from our own, and His plans are often deeper than what we see on the surface.
