Dearly beloved,
Last Sunday’s Basic Bible Class focused on man and his origin where the Biblical view of all matters concerning man’s existence is according to what God says and it is final. However, fallen men and women have taken matters into their own hands where one ends precious lives through abortions for unwanted pregnancies or euthanasia for terminal illness that might have surpassed man’s will to live. From 1998 to 2005, I have followed The Straits Times’ news of a brain damaged woman, named Theresa Schavio. She was bed-bound and in a vegetative state. Her husband went to court and obtained a legal document for doctors for the removal the feeding tube to terminate her life. Appeals from Theresa Schavio’s parents and other people with concern, did not turn away the court’s order. Her husband claimed to love her but wanted her to die based on his perspective that his wife had lost the quality, meaning and purpose of life. But God’s perspective is different from man’s perspective. And God’s perspective on all matters pertaining to life is God’s final say because :
1. God is sovereign in the creation of life
a) Man is the special creation of God
Evolution claims that it was by chance that from a single cell over millions of years that man has evolved to be what he is today. But the Bible tells us that animals and man were created on the sixth day. Animals were spoken into existence but man was formed out of the dust of the ground. Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Today, students of biology are exposed to evolution and if they are convinced that life is by chance, they would also be convinced that human life would be no different than a dog or a cat. And when man dies, he simply ceases to exist, that is what is commonly and generally believed by people. And if man is no different than animals, life can also be removed by abortion or euthanasia when it becomes necessary because of the loss of quality and worth.
b) Man is a spiritual being, made in God’s image
Quoting from Dr. Jeffrey Khoo’s book “Theology for every Christian” :
The image of man is not physical but spiritual. It is not our body that resembles God but our spirit. Since God is a Spirit, our resemblance of Him must necessarily be spiritual likeness, in knowledge, righteousness and true holiness. The teaching that “knowledge, righteousness and true holiness” are aspects of the image of God in man is based upon a combination of Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” and Colossians 3:10, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”
c) God determines the beginning of life
The womb opens and closes and whether or not life begins are according to God’s will. God has a plan for every person in the world. God had a plan for the prophet Jeremiah before he was born in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
2. God is sovereign in the conclusion of life
a) The appointment of every man’s death is by God and exactly when, how and where the appointment is, it is of God to decide. Deuteronomy 34:5, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.” Where, when and how a person dies and whether it be by disease, tragedy or old age, are according to God’s will and not man’s. Life is precious and that God sent His Son to die for us that we may have life and that we might have it more abundantly.
Elder Douglas Ho