February 03, 2019
I KNEW YOU
Jeremiah 1:4-10
“I Knew You”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Before you were born…” I can’t tell you how often I have been told that. Many of you know that I am the youngest of six children in my family. My oldest brother, Mark, who passed away a few years ago, was 17 years old when I was born. There is quite an age difference in our family. On quite a few occasions when we have a family get together I hear my older siblings talking about family vacations, events, and other happenings. I can remember a number of times saying I don’t remember that and hearing them tell me “that’s because it happened before you were born!”
Truth be told a lot of things did happen before September 28, 1978 when I was born. Before I was born there were two World wars, Korean war, and Vietnam war. Before I was born Man went to the moon. Before I was born 38 different men were President of the United States. Before any of us were born Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the Church door in Wittenberg; Jesus was born, lived, crucified and raised from the dead; Adam and Eve were created and fell into sin. Before we were born, before anything was created there was God. God knew you. And God chose life.
“Before you were born.” That little phrase means so much more to me since I became a dad. I have a new perspective; because now I say to my children “before you were born…” you were loved by your mom and me. Before you were born we made plans, and changes, and prepared for you. Before you were born…you brought us great joy. Before you were born God the Father chose life for you…life for all eternity in His Son’s death and resurrection. Before you were born God knew you. He knew the person you would be. He knew the talents you would have. He knew your shortcomings. He knew your need for love and a Savior. He knew the plans He has for you.
“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5a)
On average 1 in 3 women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Since 1973 parents have chosen death instead of life a recorded 61,008,238 (January 2019) times in the United States alone. On the world scale we average an abortion each second. Many supporters of abortion quote that abortions should be “safe, legal, and rare.” Yet murder cannot be called safe by any definition, it is an abomination in the eyes of God, and they are by no means rare. Make no mistake about this: abortion is murder; abortion is a sin.
Abortions are often seen as the only way out of a problem and situation. But those babies are not the problem. Lack of faith is. We often lack faith that God will provide in every need.
One day Michelangelo came into the studio of Raphael and looked at one of Raphael’s early drawings. Then he took a piece of chalk and wrote across the drawing, “Amplius,” which means “greater” or larger.” Raphael’s plan was too cramped and narrow. So it is when God looks down on our plan of life today and, knowing what He can do through us, writes over the plan, “Amplius!” “Greater! Larger!” God’s plan for you is “greater,” “larger” than anything you could imagine.
In a world that is full of doubt and despair know that before you were created there was God and God knew you. Your life is so precious to God that He sent His Son to redeem your life so that you may live with Him for all eternity.
As the world continues to deny personhood at conception and calling an aborted baby just unwanted bodily tissue; stand firm in God’s Word. A child in the womb or out of the womb isn’t a child because the Doctor says it is. A child isn’t a child because you or I say it is. A child isn’t a child because the courts, or laws, or the government says it is. A child is a child because God says it’s a child. We are God’s creation. We are God’s children. We belong, not to ourselves, but to God.
When considering life and death issues remember and take comfort in God’s Word to you: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”(Jeremiah 1:5a) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
With God there is always forgiveness for God loves you. There is nothing you can do that God will not forgive. For all those that have committed abortions, all those that were part of the decision process, all those that feel the guilt of sin…God loves you and forgives you. Before you were born…God chose you. Before you were born God had a plan of salvation for you. Before you were born God chose you by name to be His beloved child. Forgiveness and salvation is won for all sinners; no matter what their age, it is won for you. As Dr. Seuss said: “A person’s a person no matter how small.” And Christ died for all people.
“To those children who have been removed deliberately from the temples of their mothers’ bodies. Deprived of the birth below, they are deprived of the sacrament of the birth from above. May the God who calls all children to His Son by Baptism continue graciously to take these holy innocents into His arms,”…for of such is the kingdom of the heavens.” Amen.
