Today’s Scripture
Psalm 139 Job
12:1-10 Hebrews 12:1-3 John 10:22-30
Job asks the rhetorical
question: “Job 12:9 Which
of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 10 In his
hand is the life of every creature and the breath of
all mankind.” We read in Psalm 139 that
God is everywhere as we go up to the heavens, to the deepest depths, he is in all
of those places and at all times no matter where or how we are. Psalm 139 also proclaims God’s hand in everything, that is his almighty hand as, “he formed my inner parts.” That reminds us how complex our earthly
bodies are. Psalm 139 describes that he
“knitted me together in my mother’s
womb.” God oversees a person’s life
from conception on. At each minutes stage of development before birth through birth and
until one dies, God forms you for the purposes he makes you to be at every
point in your life.
We live in a very sinful world. Through the news we hear that a father throws
all four of his young children into drowning waters for whatever reason he
decides. He no longer considers their
lives valuable. They were not old enough
to control the events around them. In
this instance they were not able to speak for themselves. They were victims of another person’s
actions.
We have two cases of murder and
question whether these were singular or double murders. Lacey Peterson in California some time back, and now the
Marine Lauterbach recently murdered. Both were carrying unborn children. The question in both cases included whether
the babies were born or not before they died.
The question in both cases included whether to charge murder for an unborn
or not. The question in both cases is
answered differently determined by which state this occurs and the statutes of
that state. The fact that we (as a
people) ask these questions indicates that God’s law is in the hearts of all
people. We know right from wrong by
nature. God’s people know right from
wrong from his word, his commands. As
sinners we are like Adam and Eve and Cain and all others, trying to justify our
sinful actions and/or push the blame off on someone else. As we debate these issues in the public
arena, and in our private lives, instead of using human reasoning all on its
own with our sinful tendencies, let’s go to the one
source of knowledge, wisdom and truth, God’s word.
As faithful believers let us not ask
the question, “What would God/Jesus do?”
Instead we ask the question, “What does God say.” That is because we know God loves you and
does not want you distressed by gray and unpredictable things. We know that left to our sinful natures we
are tossed about by the waves of influence around and inside each one. We lean this way and that according to the
shifting sands beneath our feat. We go
this way and that determined by the changing winds.
We do not need to blame the Supreme
Court’s decision Roe v. Wade, differing laws and statutes, practices of clinics
and other health agencies. We need to
recognize that we live in a society and world that is the one that Job is
crying out about. Like Job, Christians
are often a laughingstock to the prevailing ways of society. Like those around Job, the sinful who provoke God are secure as they are confident in their
decisions and sense of wisdom that are above God’s. As Job says, they bring their god in their hand, they make their god think their thoughts. It is basic sin as any one of us at any time
puts one’s sinful thoughts and actions above the one and only true God, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
Following the passage we read, in v.
13 Job states, “(It is) to God belong wisdom and power; counsel and
understanding are his.” Throughout all
of time and mankind, we struggle with issues of life and death. Cain thought his brother Abel was standing in
his way, so he thought Abel’s life was dispensable.
Back to God’s word, He made man and
woman with a command to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and
subdue it.” He breathed into man’s
nostrils the “breath of life” unlike any other part of creation. He made man in his image. As we lost that image, it is God’s will to
restore us to that image at the resurrection to eternal life with him.
Jeremiah 1:5, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you
apart. Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you
distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has
made mention of my name. Each moment
you live, each breath you take, each stage of life you are in from conception
on, God has a plan for you. It is his
decision when you will live, and what he will accomplish through you. Although it seems to us not right, he does
determine whether life is carried from conception to birth, from birth to
maturity, and maturity through all events to old age. He calls on each one of us to help each other
preserving and taking care of life.
He also commands us to speak for
those who cannot speak for themselves.
That includes the invalid, the unborn, infants and young children as
they grow and mature, those with physical and other
developmental and mental incapacities.
God also extends his love and
forgiveness to all who in the past have made questionable and/or wrong
decisions and actions in regards to murder, abortion, health
care for self or another, accidents or other actions that have caused harm,
injuries or loss of life. God loves you
and wants you to know he forgives these as he does the simple sins of lying or
whatever. He loves you so much that
through Jesus’ blood and righteousness, all of your sins are
forgiven, and you are restored in his holy image again and forever. As promised in today’s Gospel, his sheep hear
his voice and follow him. No one can
snatch you out of his hands. No one can
snatch you out of his father’s hands. [John 10].
Psalm 119:73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your
commands. Let us rejoice in life. Let us rejoice in the death of believing
saints who now are in his eternal arms.
Let us rejoice in that same gift that is given in the forgiveness of
sins and life everlasting. Amen.