IN MY OFFICE HANGS A PICTURE THAT STATES THE FOLLOWING: “JUST THINK, YOU’RE NOT HERE BY CHANCE, BUT BY GOD’S CHOOSING. HIS HAND FORMED YOU AND MADE YOU THE PERSON YOU ARE. HE COMPARES YOU TO NO ONE ELSE. YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND. YOU LACK NOTHING THAT HIS GRACE CAN’T GIVE YOU. HE HAS ALLOWED YOU TO BE HERE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY TO FULFILL HIS SPECIAL PURPOSE FOR THIS GENERATION.”
LIFE HAS MEANING AND PURPOSE. LIFE HAS VALUE. LIFE IS SACRED AND IT IS HOLY. GENESIS 2:7, “THEN THE LORD GOD FORMED A MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND AND BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE, AND THE MAN BECAME A LIVING BEING.” LIFE IS “GOD-BREATHED” THEREFORE IT IS HOLY.
THAT IS WHY MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED, “SANCTUM VITAE” WHICH IS LATIN AND MEANS “LIFE IS HOLY.” OUR LIVES ARE FORMED IN TWO DISTINCT AND SACRED WAYS: FIRST, OUR LIVES ARE SET, HAND-CRAFTED AND DESIGNED BY GOD, HIMSELF. PSALM 139:13-16, “FOR YOU CREATED MY INMOST BEING; YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE…MY FRAME WAS NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU WHEN I WAS MADE IN THE SECRET PLACE, WHEN I WAS WOVEN TOGETHER IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH.”
SECONDLY, NOT ONLY ARE WE CREATED BY GOD, BUT WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE. GENESIS 1:27, “SO GOD CREATED HUMAN BEINGS IN HIS OWN IMAGE. IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED THEM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM.”
WE CAN REJOICE KNOWING THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER’S DETAILED OVERSIGHT OF OUR EXISTENCE INSTILLS WITHIN US A PURPOSE, REASON, AND HOPE FOR WHO WE ARE…AND WHOSE WE ARE. THIS GIVES US CONFIDENCE TO DECLARE THAT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AND THE ENDING OF LIFE ARE THE GOD-GIVEN BOUNDARIES OF ALL HUMAN EXISTNCE.
OUR LIFE BELONGS TO GOD WHO GRANTS US SUCH LIFE. THEREFORE, WE ARE EQUALLY BOUND TO HONOR AND RESPECT THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN LIFE. EPHESIANS 2:10, “FOR WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.”
GOD ALLOWED OUR CREATION IN ORDER TO EXPRESS HIS LOVE TO US. WE WERE CREATED AS A SPECIAL OBJECT OF GOD’S LOVE. OUR GOD MADE US ON PURPOSE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON AND THAT IS WHY HUMAN LIFE HAS PROFOUND MEANING AND VALUE.
THIS IS WHY ALL FORMS OF SINFULNESS AGAINST OUR EXISTENCE IS SUCH A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY. WE, AS MERE HUMANS, HAVE NO RIGHT IN DECIDING WHAT BECOMES OF A LIFE GOD CREATES. WE MUST NOT LORD OVER WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES.
THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT STANDS WITH GOD, OUR CREATOR, WHEN CHALLENGES ARISE CONCERNING THE TAKING OF LIFE, ENDING LIFE, PREVENTING LIFE, AND EVEN ENGINEERING OR ALTERING LIFE.
DEUTERONOMY 30:15-16; 19-20, “SEE, I SET BEFORE YOU TODAY LIFE AND PROSPERITY, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. FOR I COMMAND YOU TODAY TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDS, DECREES AND LAWS; THEN YOU WILL LIVE … I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSINGS AND CURSES. NOW CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MAY LIVE AND THAT YOU MAY LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE….”
RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE ALWAYS GOES BOTH WAYS! WE MUST LEARN TO HAVE A HEALTHY RESPECT OUR OWN LIFE AS WELL AS AN UNCONDITIONAL RESPECT FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
MARK 12:29-31, JESUS ANSWERED HIM, “THE FIRST OF ALL THE COMMANDMENTS IS: ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. AND THE SECOND, LIKE IT, IS THIS: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ THERE IS NO OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE.”
GOD CREATED US FOR HIMSELF AND HE LOVES US ALL FULLY, UNCONDITIONALLY, AND EQUALLY. HE WISHES ALL TO BE IN A LOVING AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. 2 PETER 3:9, “THE LORD IS NOT SLOW IN KEEPING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME UNDERSTAND SLOWNESS. INSTEAD HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH, BUT EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE.”
DESPITE WHAT BECOMES OF US DUE TO THE SINFULNESS OF OTHERS OR FROM OUR OWN CHOICES AND DECISIONS, IT CANNOT DISRUPT THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS FOR US. I BELIEVE THIS IS WHY IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW SACRED LIFE IS AND THE GREAT VALUE PLACED UPON OUR LIVES.
OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE TODAY, 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20, HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF OUR VALUE. THE WORDS CONTAINED IN THIS PASSAGE IS OUR COMMAND TO UPHOLD THE SANCTITY OF LIFE BUT TO ALSO SEE OUR OWN VALUE AS WELL.
WE SEE, IN VERSE 19, THAT OUR BODIES ARE “TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” THE WORD “TEMPLES” MEANS “SACRED SHRINE” OR “THE SANCTUARY” AND “PLACE WHERE DEITY DWELLS.” THIS WORD SPEAKS OF THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ONE’S ENTIRE LIFE.
WE MUST REALIZE THAT OUR BODIES REALLY ARE TEMPLES OR “SPIRITUAL SANCTUARIES” AS JESUS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN HIS BODY WAS A TEMPLE.
JOHN 2:19-21, “ALL RIGHT,” JESUS REPLIED. “DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.” “WHAT!” THEY EXCLAIMED. “IT HAS TAKEN FORTY-SIX YEARS TO BUILD THIS TEMPLE, AND YOU CAN REBUILD IT IN THREE DAYS?” BUT WHEN JESUS SAID, “THIS TEMPLE,” HE MEANT HIS OWN BODY.”
THE TEMPLE WAS REGARDED BY THE JEWS AS THE SPECIAL PLACE OF RESIDENCE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT RESIDES IN A TEMPLE, IT BELONGS TO GOD. PAUL, IN VERSES 19-20, SAYS, “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN; YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE.” YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AN PAID FOR! WE BELONG TO GOD!
JESUS CHRIST DIED TO SAVE NOT ONLY PART, BUT THE WHOLE PERSON, BODY AND SOUL. JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD AND GAVE HIS LIFE TO GIVE EACH OF US A REDEEMED SOUL AND PURE BODY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, OUR BODIES ARE NOT OUR OWN TO DO WITH AS WE LIKE OR PLEASE; THEY BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS’ AND WE MUST USE THEM, NOT FOR THE SATISFACTION OF OUR OWN DESIRES, BUT FOR THE SOLE GLORY OF JESUS CHRIST.
ROMANS 12:1-2, “AND SO, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I PLEAD WITH YOU TO GIVE YOUR BODIES TO GOD BECAUSE OF ALL HE HAS DONE FOR YOU. LET THEM BE A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE—THE KIND HE WILL FIND ACCEPTABLE. THIS IS TRULY THE WAY TO WORSHIP HIM. DON’T COPY THE BEHAVIOR AND CUSTOMS OF THIS WORLD, BUT LET GOD TRANSFORM YOU INTO A NEW PERSON BY CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK. THEN YOU WILL LEARN TO KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR YOU, WHICH IS GOOD AND PLEASING AND PERFECT.”
THE GREAT FACT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS NOT THAT IT MAKES US FREE TO SIN, BUT THAT IT MAKES US FREE NOT TO SIN. IT IS SO EASY TO ALLOW ATTITUDES, HABITS, AND LIFESTYLES TO TAKE CONTROL OF US….BUT, WITH JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE ENABLED WITH SPIRITUAL STRENGTH TO, INSTEAD, TAKE CONTROL OF THESE VERY SINS THAT DISGRACE, DAMAGE AND DESTROY OUR TEMPLES.
THIS IS WHY WE MUST NEVER OVERLOOK A VERY IMPORTANT STATEMENT PAUL MADE IN VERSE 19 WHEN HE SAID, “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN!” THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH IS THAT EVERY ASPECT OF THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER BELONGS TO GOD. NOTHING WE HAVE IS OURS TO HAVE AND TO DO WITH AS WE PLEASE.
ALL OF LIFE BELONGS TO GOD, AND IT IS ULTIMATELY GOD’S WILL AND WORK THAT IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR LIVES. WE SURRENDER OUR SELFISH DESIRES FOR CONTROL OVER THE DIRECTION OF OUR LIFE TO LIVE-OUT GOD’S WILL FOR US. ROMANS 14:8, “IF WE LIVE, WE LIVE FOR THE LORD; AND IF WE DIE, WE DIE FOR THE LORD. SO, WHETHER WE LIVE OR DIE, WE BELONG TO THE LORD.”
WE FIND OUR IDENTITY, PURPOSE, AND MEANING THROUGH A SURRENDERED AND LOVING RELTIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. THEREFORE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT ALL THAT WE DO IS VOID OF “SELF” SO AS TO BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO GOD.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SUMMARIZE THIS ARE THE CLOSING WORDS OF THE HYMN, “WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS” THAT STATE, “LOVE SO AMAZING, SO DIVINE,DEMANDS MY SOUL, MY LIFE, MY ALL.”
“SANCTUM VITAE” BECAUSE LIFE IS HOLY, WE RECOGNIZE THE “SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.” THE WORD “SANCTITY” MEANS “SACRED, HOLY, OR PRECIOUS” SO THAT WE ALWAYS HONOR GOD BY UPHOLDING AND PROTECTING THE HIGH VALUE OF ALL LIFE.
WE DEFEND SUCH LIFE BECAUSE THE PRICE PAID FOR SUCH LIFE WAS THE VERY BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. ONE MUST ONLY REMEMBER JOHN 3:16-17, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM.”
YES, BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST, “LIFE MATTERS.” MAY WE, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, PLACE A MUCH HIGHER AND GREATER VALUE ON ALL LIFE INCLUDING OUR OWN.
MAY WE PROTECT LIFE IN ALL ITS STAGES SUCH AS THE UNBORN, ELDERLY, AND HANDICAPPED WHILE ALSO KEEPING A GODLY STANCE TOWARDS SOCIAL ISSUES SUCH AS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, EUTHANASIA, AND GENETIC ENGINEERING. YES! LIFE MATTERS! “SANCTUM VITAE!” LIFE IS HOLY! CHOOSE LIFE!
