Let us imagine for a moment that for some reason our government actually legalized murder. No longer would any arm of the law in this country investigate, charge, prosecute or imprison anyone thought to have killed or having been seen killing another human being. Imagine the consequences of such an act, the chaos, the fear, the suffering and the deterioration that society would undergo.

I raise this thought, as you may have guessed, because this very thing has already taken place and while its impact is limited to a only a certain segment of humanity, it still is in fact real and its consequences are terrible. It is called abortion.

Statistics show the magnitude of what has taken place since its legalization in 1973. Some 37 to 44 million babies have been reported to have been aborted in this country. Some sources indicate the numbers to be much higher. The US population is around 295 million therefore some 12 to 15 percent of all Americans have been destroyed by this law known as Rowe vs Wade. This is about 1 in every 7 to 8 people.

Our legal system and its advocates justify themselves with numerous arguments based upon certain rights and logical reasoning which appeal to many. However one thing cannot be denied and that is that a human being is essentially a process which begins at conception and does not end till death.

The main difference in those of us who have been born and those who have not is the part of this living process we happen to be in. To willfully and intentionally interrupt this process at any stage kills a human being and this cannot be denied.

Further still, government has now shown that is willing to legalize the murder of other innocent and helpless humans as has taken place in the highly publicized case of Terry Schiavo, a Florida resident who suffered brain damage from a heart attack. Unable to speak or defend herself, her life was ended at the direction of the courts after months of deliberation. How many Terry’s, do you suppose have taken place in this country which have not received this kind of notoriety.

Looking at these events from a social perspective, they make us wonder how could this be happening. However, from the perspective of God, it is even worse. God recognizes human life at all stages of its existence (Luk 1:41, Jer 1:5) and He will hold those accountable who are responsible for the murder of these unborn (2 Cor 5:10). Furthermore, God may very well punish this nation for the atrocities committed here (Jonah 1:2;3:4). Right now the future of this country does not appear very bright unless we repent as a nation (Jonah 3:10)and once again adhere to the concept of one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

The Clintwood Church of Christ, POB 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228. E-mail bryanwa@ntelos.net