Life Is Sacred

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” – Psalm 8:3-4

The universe and everything in it is absolutely fascinating with plenty of mystery to keep our attention and affection for the rest of our days, if we’re so inclined to keep looking. Still, there are things that have been made clear enough to no longer wonder about…but, instead become facts or truths. The questions of life or its value are among those truths, leading us to understand that all life is sacred.

This is an issue that each generation and each culture must address. Is life sacred or not? Is the life of an unborn baby sacred? Is the life of an older person sacred? Is the life of a disabled person sacred? What about the life of a neighbor who disagrees with you about the sanctity of human life?

Wars have begun, continued and ended with the snuffing out of human life. It shouldn’t surprise us when the issue of abortion is brought up, that it causes many of us to bristle and set up our defenses – because we treat it as an issue of life and death.

One week ago, on January 22, many people marched, walked and otherwise protested the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973. The conviction that all life is sacred can not be squelched. The conviction that we must defend the lives of the innocent isn’t often a point we argue about…until or unless our own lives or lifestyle are at risk. Then, we start to get ugly with each other, as our true nature is revealed and the sinners we are take center stage.

Oh, and we get ugly. And irrational. And inconsistent. And unloving. The majesty of God’s beautiful creation is lost to the eyes of those who stop looking beyond themselves. We stop caring about babies…and, animals…and, oceans. What will the future look like if we don’t take care of the lives and lovely things we have today? Many people make a political issue out of everything…and, maybe that’s you…but, I believe Jesus took on flesh in the womb of Mary, and took a breath in the Bethlehem air, and shed His blood on a hill outside of Jerusalem to make life a personal issue.

Jesus didn’t sacrifice anyone or anything aside from Himself. We sometimes miss the mysterious beauty in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He came to our defense. He came to save, because life…is sacred.

Pastor James Gomez
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church