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CALLED BY NAME

Abortion does not think about the future. Seventy six million babyboomers could soon realize that their lives might become a burden because 53 million people who would have supported an aging population were aborted. That's an economic nightmare.

But, there's a more personal side to this nightmare. Each one of the 53 million boys and girls who have been aborted in the U.S. alone since 1973 had a name. ". . . I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine," says the Creator and Lord God (Isaiah 43:1-2).

Abortion drops a name placed upon a unique and treasured person. It is a name known by God before all eternity for all eternity. It is a name of a boy or girl who would have impacted this world in ways we'll never know.

Abortion drops a name from a teacher's grade book. From 4-H club or Boy Scouts or junior olympics. From schools of music, agriculture, or medicine. From the consumer index and first-time home ownership. From the tax rolls. From marriage, parenthood, and genealogies.

Abortion drops a name from baptism, confirmation, and the mission field.

There is an emptiness when a name is dropped by abortion. Women from every neighborhood, family, and congregation who've suffered the loss of an aborted child would explain this if only we'd listen. That's because a mother knows that a child created and named by God can never be replaced.

God named each one of this nation's 53 million aborted children. For each one He had a future and hope. Even though each would have been born into sin, God had for them a robe of righteousness because of what Jesus did on a Cross for them. Our world is less because these children are not with us. Our world suffers when people created for purpose and called by name are considered "untimely," "inconvenient," or "fearful."

But, God has also named every mother who feared her child; who failed to see her child's future and hope; who, deceived by other voices, doubted that God is good and can be trusted in every circumstance. He calls each empty mother by name: "My daughter in Christ! Lift your countenance toward Me!" He waits with open arms for each mother with a broken and repentant heart. "Turn to Me… acknowledge your sin… and I will forgive your guilt" (Psalm 32:3-5). "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). "Woman… neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11).

A woman who faces the reality of her abortion is in need of someone else whom God has named. That person is you. It is me. We are friends. Comforters. Encouragers. We are imitators of the Good Shepherd who walks beside the heavy-hearted through a dark valley toward "goodness and mercy." A mother who mourns the loss of her child needs a Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18).

You and I must take care not to soften the seriousness of sin. This devalues the magnitude of God's forgiveness, bought and paid for by the sacrificial life and death of Jesus Christ. At the center of our forgiveness stands the Cross of Christ. Forgiveness is costly. Our forgiveness cost the innocent Son of God His life. There is no forgiveness without blood being shed, without paying a price, without the sacrifice of Christ. But, because of Jesus' sacrifice, sin cannot defeat us. Peter, a follower of Christ, sinned greatly, but he confessed his sin and received God's forgiveness. Through Jesus' forgiveness the Holy Spirit enabled Peter to live a changed life. That same power of the Holy Spirit works through the Gospel to change our lives - to enable us to live lives that reflect God's love for us and withstand the temptation of Satan, the world, and our sinful flesh.

You and I can love and accept people burdened by their sin, but only God in Christ can heal them. A woman who's suffered an abortion may believe that God has forgiven her, but has difficulty forgiving herself. Jesus is the key that opens the door and sets all sinners free. What was the process for David in Psalm 51? David was sorry for his sin, confessed that sin, turned from that sin, received God's forgiveness and was restored from sin. Then he rejoiced over God's healing touch of forgiveness and was eager to witness to others of God's great forgiveness. You and I can assure those who grieve that the memory of their aborted child will remain with them, but "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Word of Hope knows that God has called each child by name. We grieve their loss, but entrust them to God. We also know that He has called every mother, father, grandparent, and care-giving friend by name. Please pray we encourage all in a manner that honors the One who named us.

By Linda Bartlett
First published in LifeDate, Summer 2011,
www.lutheransforlife.org For more information about Word of Hope or its mentoring ministry, Titus 2 for Life, please call Grace at (888) 217-8679 or Linda at (641) 648-3785.