Sunday, June 8, 2014

Satan Waltzed Right In

He didn't even sneak in the back door.  He waltzed right in the front door and was embraced like an old friend. He was covered in a cloak, a beautiful one made from love and compassion.  He is after all the ultimate beguiler. Hidden expertly in that cloak he began to dance and beckoned us to follow, to dance with him.

I have been a part of a beautiful community of mothers for over four years. A community of mothers who have encouraged me through some of the most difficult of times. I have a deep and true love for the mamas.  They have taught me how to love and encourage people who are new to our community. Until this week I do not think we have disagreed on much.

This week I feel like part of this community followed the beckoning of the beguiling.  They danced with the devil. They chose to embrace abortion. Let me preface my thoughts with a disclaimer that I wholeheartedly believe. I believe there is no sin that should cause Christians to turn their backs on others and not offer people the love that we have been commanded to give. God has set the example for Christians to follow. He forgives all who come to him and lay their sins at his feet.

Satan wants the world to think that when Christians speak out against a sin they also hate the sinner.  We are all sinners. 
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
I am a wretched sinner saved by grace.  Nothing I ever could do would make me deserving of God's love.  He gives it freely.  He commands me to give it freely as well. Nothing I could do would make me deserving of God's salvation. The cross was my atonement for my wretchedness.

But I am not to embrace sin EVER. I am not to tell someone who had an abortion that what they did was alright. It is not alright.  It is murder. Women make choices to end pregnancy for many different reasons and society says it is alright. 
Over four years ago we were given a incompatible with life diagnosis for the son I carried in my belly. We went to a specialist for further diagnosis and were told we should terminate our pregnancy.  Kill our son. He would never live on this earth anyway so why not just get it over with. No other reason but that. We were scared and felt all alone in a new world, but we we covered in prayer and God alone guided us through the next twelve weeks and then life thereafter. If you are reading this now and you chose to terminate your pregnancy please know I love you, most importantly God loves you.  He will not turn His back on you. God can use this situation to draw you near to Him, give you new life. No matter how much I love you and God loves you unless YOU lay it before God and ask for His forgiveness, it will not be redeemed. He and He alone is the author of life.

Our diagnosis could have just as easily been one that would turn the tables and put my life in danger.  I thank God everyday that it was not and that I have not had to walk in those shoes. I have often thought about what I would do in that situation.  It obviously would not have been some mistake God had made because he does not make mistakes. He is perfect.  He is sovereign.
Imagine with me for a second that some crazed person walked up to me and put a gun to my head.  This person then said the only way your life can be spared, to raise your children, is if you give me one of them.  They will take the bullet for you. What would you do? I am a mama bear.  I would fight, fight for my children. To terminate would be to say God had made a mistake.

I have seen a very disheartening exodus from biblical beliefs among this community all in the name of tolerance. I think tolerance has become lumped in to a category with love and compassion.  However, tolerance is not the inability to recognize the existence of a sin.  The bible is very clear about the destructiveness of sin.  We fail to draw a line between the sin and the sinner just as Satan wishes.

I will tell you that I believe the grief of a mother who has terminated a pregnancy without repentance is valid and so much greater than the grief I walk with over the loss of my son.  Her grief is laced with guilt, I believe, and for that I pray for her.  My heart goes out to her because her hurt is so real and hopeless and will remain that way unless she asks for forgiveness of a God that is good all of the time...A God that makes no mistakes.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden in light.

Satan's cloak may be beautiful and beguiling but it is no match for HIS words. These words offer hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary.  Here is a place to lay your head and be comforted. It is a place of quiet rest. It is a free gift offered to those who are willing to receive. Acceptance in a community of people is nothing compared to this! People are human and riddled with flaws.God is perfect in ALL of His ways.

Much Love,