God, our Creator has given to women, a most wonderful gift: the ability to house a little human being inside of our bodies. God’s design was that these little beings would be conceived in love between a man and woman, specifically, husband and wife to populate his creation, Earth.

I remember when I first learned that I was pregnant, oh how happy I was. I almost immediately began placing my hand on my tummy, speaking and singing to my baby, though, at that time I’m sure she hadn’t yet had her ears formed, but I wanted her to know that she was loved.

Inside of my body, a whole new being was being formed, a body within my body, developing with her own DNA, her own personality, made in the image of God.  I was her power source, her protection, her nutrient source for nine months to prepare her for entry into the world.

I believe that life begins at conception, and although my belief is based on my biblical worldview, scientists agree. See Life Begins At Fertilization,  and When Human Life Begins.

In fact, my second source, American College of Pediatricians states in its abstract of When Human Life Begins:

The predominance of human biological research confirms that human life begins at conception—fertilization.  At fertilization, the human being emerges as a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism, a member of the species Homo sapiens, needing only the proper environment in order to grow and develop. The difference between the individual in its adult stage and in its zygotic stage is one of form, not nature. This statement focuses on the scientific evidence of when an individual human life begins.

Although, I may not know the exact time or day, when my children were conceived, God did. He appointed the day. Scriptures are replete with references to God’s hand in our beginning.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me when as of yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3

God told the prophet Jeremiah:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

As Job, who was being tested by Satan, lamented:

Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’ Job 3:3 ESV

This year is the 46th anniversary of the law legalizing abortion, Roe v Wade. This law was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court which gave women a legal right to have an abortion; giving women rights over their bodies.  It’s been described as a woman’s right to choose. Recently, New York just signed a law allowing late-term abortions up to birth. It permits abortions when the life of the mother is threatened or the baby’s life is not viable.

But it is God who gives the gift of life. Life does begin at conception. We all know this. Ask a woman who is looking forward to being pregnant. Upon learning of her pregnancy, she immediately embraces the little being within her by touching her tummy, rubbing her tummy, whispering to her tummy, for inside she knows that she is housing a little being.  We know this too, because though our laws may change, if a woman was murdered while pregnant, the crime would go down as a double homicide, because two beings were murdered.

If that is the case, and it is, why would we see it differently when an “unplanned” pregnancy occurs?  It is not a right to take the life of another. The Bible is clear in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder.” It is not our own body that we are taking, but that of another.

While it’s true, God’s design that babies would be conceived in love, but because of our sin, that is not always the case. But, abortion is not the way out. God provides a way out, and that option is adoption. There are many homes waiting to receive.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:13 ESV

If you’re convinced that the issue is all about choice, and the right to choose, what about the choice of the child? Even in the womb, they are choosing life by thriving on the nutrients of the mother. I pray the day will come when we all can embrace the marvelous gift of life God has granted.