“The Right to Life”
Job 1:21
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Wednesday night I announced that this Sunday was Right to Life emphasis day and that I would be speaking on the subject of abortion and what is going on in this country and how God would surely judge America for its part in taking the lives of the unborn or preborn as these children are sometimes called. Some of you probably expected me to rail on the injustice of abortion and condemn abortion providers and supporters. As I thought about this message I asked myself why we have abortion on demand in this country today in the first place and I concluded that like a lot of other moral issues in our culture the church is at least partially responsible for abortion. Why? I believe it is because of our low view of God. We can learn some valuable lessons from Job’s statement about God uttered after the loss of his possessions and his children.
First: Who is the source of life?
I. Job Recognizes the Power of God – “…the LORD gave…”
A. The state of man – “…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither…”
Here Job uses a figure of speech (my mother’s womb) which is often used to refer to the earth and he is basically saying that I came out of the earth and I will return to the earth. He points out that when we were born we were absolutely helpless and hapless and that when we come to the end we will be helpless as well. We are destitute when we are arrive and we will be destitute when we depart! Solomon uses a similar figure of speech in Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
There is an old cliché’ that says that “…you can’t take it with you!” and this is exactly what Solomon says!
B. The singularity of God – “…the LORD…”
Job’s use of the article here should serve to remind us that He stands alone in the entire universe. He is unique and transcendent.
God’s Transcendence
Although some define God as a supreme being, unlimited in scope, He is not a being as humans are. We are finite beings, God is not. He says in Isaiah 55:8-9,
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
But, He is self-consciousness and has a will. He not only is capable of feeling and choosing but of having a reciprocal relationship with other persons. He has names, which demonstrates that he is not an abstract, unknowable being, or a nameless force.
It is impossible to define God. He is in all things, but not equated with all that is. He can never be fully grasped with our finite minds and experiences. Isaiah speaks of this when he writes, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught him? 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” Isaiah 40:13, 18 God is a spirit; He is not composed of matter and does not possess a physical nature. Therefore, He is considered transcendent to man!
God is, nonetheless, alive. He is characterized by life and is the vital force, the very basis of life. John writes, “For as the Father hath life in himself… John 5:26 He does not derive his life from any external source. He can continue to exist independently of everything else, and, as a matter of fact, there was never a time when He did not exist. He is eternal, even named the Eternal God in Genesis 21:33. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End of all time. In His eternal nature there has never been any quantitative or qualitative change in Him. God said in Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not…”
He is infinite in relationship to time and He is infinite in terms of space. He is omnipresent; there is nowhere where He is not found. That concept is impossible for man, who is localized to particular places at particular times, to understand. The psalmist reflects on this trait in Psalm 139:
7 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalm 139:7-12
God is unlimited in time and power. He is able to do all things. God reveals this aspect about Himself in His question to Abraham “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Genesis 18:14 The comparison between man’s and God’s plans is clearly seen: “There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:21 Jesus teaches about God’s Almighty power by comparing God’s power to man’s power in Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” and in Luke 1:37 it is emphatically stated, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Because there is no limit to God’s power, His plans always come to pass. The Bible says, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115:3
His power is directly related to His sovereignty. God’s will is never frustrated! What He chooses, He accomplishes. The Psalmist refers to this in Psalm 33:11 “The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Although God can accomplish anything that He desires, He cannot and will not act against His nature. He is morally pure and will not do anything that corrupts His holiness.
God is untouched and unstained by the evil in the world. He is absolutely pure and good. Job says of God, “Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.” Job 34:10 . Holiness also means separation in regard to persons or things. God in His holiness is removed from the world:
“God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.” Psalm 47:8
“…Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” Psalm 48:1
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones,” Isaiah 57:15
His holiness can be conveyed to people, places, and things that are associated with Him. The Holy Place in the Temple was holy because of God’s presence. Moses stood in God’s holiness in Exodus 3 during his burning bush experience.
When God’s holiness of applied to his relationships with others He is righteous. The law of God is righteous because His actions are in accord with the law which he himself has established. The Bible shows the relationship between God’s perfection, and His justice:
“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he”. Deuteronomy 32:4
“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his…”. Psalm 11:7
God’s justice is his official righteousness. Psalm 50:4 says, “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people”. According to His nature, He is fair in the administration of his law. He does not show favoritism or partiality, Then Peter began to speak: “…Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” Acts 10:34. “Who will render to every man according to his deeds:” Romans 2:6. “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:25, but for those who confess their sins, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. “For it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” Psalm 75:7.
A believer can be sure that God will be righteous in His judgment because of His integrity. He is the genuine God because He represents things as they really are. He proves true because of His faithfulness. God keeps all his promises. His faithfulness is a function of his unlimited power and capability. He was faithful in the Old Testament to His promises, “There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45 and continued to be faithful in the New Testament because, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself”. 2 Timothy 2:13. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” God can do anything and will stay faithful because of the unlimited power that He has.
The last two transcendent characteristics are God love and grace. In the OT, God is love is focused on His chosen people of Israel. His love is seen as He initiates a relationship with humans. It is shown in His willingness to allow man to have the freedom of choice. The full scope and meaning of God’s love is revealed in the New Testament. His love reaches out to all people, not only to the Israelites. His unselfish love was shown when He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross to redeem the lost. John writes, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” I John 4:9. It was His agape love that compelled His act of self-sacrifice.
God’s love for man initiates His grace towards man. He does not deal with people on the basis of their own merit or worthiness or what they deserve, but deals with them according to their deepest need. His grace is exemplified in Romans 5:6, 8:
6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God deals with people on the basis of His goodness and generosity. He supplies us with His undeserved favors, requiring nothing from us in return. And, He is persistent, yet patient, in His love. His desire is for everyone to come to know Him and to experience His love 2 Peter 3:9.
There are some implications for man in understanding God’s transcendence. The most obvious one is that He is a superior being that will never be totally understood. Without a doubt, there will always be a difference between God and man. Because of His superiority, man needs to remember that any revelation of God comes from Him. He is the one who condescends to meet man in a way that man understands. Even our salvation is not our achievement, but God’s initiative. Any shortcomings in our understanding of God’s nature are because of our finite minds and understanding.
Condensed from “Anchor Your Life”
C. The sovereignty of God – “…the
LORD gave…”
Part of the problem in the church world today is that we do not understand the doctrine of the sovereignty of God and do not fully appreciate how important it is. The word simply means that God is in absolute, complete control of the entire universe and everything in it! That alone makes some folks uncomfortable in this day where men are exalted to godlike status, where men “…worship and serve the creature rather than the creator…” This attitude has affected the church as well.
Mark Finley writes: “We don’t seem to want to worship a God who’s too big, too authoritative. We seem more comfortable with a deity who’s more manageable.”
Second: Who has the right to life?
II. Job Recognizes the Prerogative of God – “…and the LORD hath taken away…”
A. The mastery of God’s ways
Since God is omnipotent (all powerful) then there nothing that He cannot do that He chooses to do.
B. The mystery of God’s ways
Job 9:10 “Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”
Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
C. The magnanimity of God’s ways
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Third: What does this last phrase reveal?
III. Job Recognizes the Praises to God – “…blessed be the name of the LORD.”
A. He was reveling in the person of God
To know God is to love God. If we really see who God is and what He is like then I am convinced that we will believe and behave differently. If the American church ever returns to an orthodox biblical understanding of God, it is my firmly held belief that the abortion mills in this country would be shut down and this scourge upon our country would be rejected once and for all. When God created this world, men were at the top of the plant and animal world, now men are at the bottom. We place more value on the lives of snail darters and spotted owls than we do on the unborn of our own species. This is directly related to a low view of God!!!!!!
Job 42:5 “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”
B. He was resigned to the purpose of God
ILL - “Another aspect of a fully surrendered life is trust. Abraham followed God’s leading without knowing where it would take him. Hannah waited for God’s perfect timing without knowing when. Mary expected a miracle without knowing how. Joseph trusted God’s purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did.”
Rick Warren "The Purpose Driven Life"
C. He was resting in the peace of God
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Alcorn: "To endorse or even to be neutral about killing innocent children created in God’s image is unthinkable.”
If we devalue even one human life, created in the image of God, then we devalue all human life! All of us are horrified when we see and hear of tragedies like Columbine (13 dead), Virginia Tech (32 dead), Batman film (12 dead), Nickel Mines School (5 dead) and Sandy Hook (27 dead) but I predict that these attacks upon the innocent will continue and predictably, will become more frequent. America has a payday coming because of abortion and it will come unless we repent individually and corporately for downgrading God and devaluing human life in and outside the womb.
The Prayer Delivered by Rev. Joe Wright
before the Kansas House of Representatives
January 23, 1996
Heavenly Father, we come before you to ask your forgiveness. We seek your direction and your guidance. We know your word says, "Woe to those who call evil good." But that's what we've done. We've lost our spiritual equilibrium. We have inverted our values. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word in the name of moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We've exploited the poor and called it a lottery. We've neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. In the name of choice, we have killed our unborn. In the name of right to life, we have killed abortionists. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it taxes. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, oh, God, and know our hearts today. Try us. Show us any wickedness within us. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of the State of Kansas, and that they have been ordained by you to govern this great state.
Grant them your wisdom to rule. May their decisions direct us to the center of your will. And, as we continue our prayer and as we come in out of the fog, give us clear minds to accomplish our goals as we begin this Legislature. For we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
