Someone Never Changes

From LifeDate - Winter 2006.

Someone Never Changes
by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb

As I think about the recent election results and read a host of responses to those results, that Ecclesiastes verse keeps running through my head, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV). The political climate has changed. But it will change again. What hasn’t changed? Abortionists killed 3,600 babies every day prior to the election and abortionists have killed 3,600 babies every day since the election.

If there is going to be change, change that will last and make a difference “for life” and make a difference in people’s lives, then a more fundamental change must take place first. This change must take place among God’s people. Christians must realize that abortion—and the pandemic of devaluing life abortion spawns—is a spiritual issue. There will be “nothing new under the sun” regarding the sanctity of human life until Christians realize this, act upon it, and bring their influence to bear to transform a society obsessed with death into a society that upholds the preciousness of life.

The only source for this kind of change is found in the Someone who never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). Everything Jesus did—from His conception to His ascension—He did to the glory of His heavenly Father and for the sake of human life. Everything Jesus did gives inestimable value to human life. Everything Jesus did is honored when the life He created and redeemed is honored regardless of condition of health or stage of development. But, everything Jesus did is mocked when life is labeled “unwanted” or “unable.” And, unfortunately, everything Jesus did is forgotten when Christians equate abortion with political issues.

How we go about it may change, but one thing that will never be “new under the sun” here at Lutherans For Life is connecting the issues of life to the unchanging Word of Life. We desire to help God’s people make this connection. We desire to help God’s people see the life issues as spiritual issues. We desire to equip God’s people with the most powerful, positive, pro-life message in the universe—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This message of truth, grace, forgiveness, healing, and hope is “tailor made” for the life issues. This message makes a difference in people’s lives dealing with these issues.

Elections will come and go. The political climate will change and then change back again. There will be nothing new under the sun until Christians realize that abortion is not just a political issue. There will be nothing new under the sun until Christians realize that they can influence and transform society when it comes to honoring life because they have been transformed by the Word of Life who does not change.

Posted 11/9/06.