How
DOES development take place?
We know that the development
of a human being takes place during a gradual process. Our life begins in
fertilization, but the fertilized egg cell does not change immediately into a
girl or a boy weighing three kilos, or into an adult; everything takes place
gradually over the course of several months.
This development
continues until the adult age, so that those parts of the body which we have
all the time also grow and change. Because of this, all of us are a different
size in the womb than for example at the age of one, five, twelve or twenty,
even though it is all the time a question of the same individual and the same
limbs, just as Paul said about himself:
- (Gal 1:15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
In any case, when we talk
about development in the womb, we can found several stages of development that
follow each other. We can also note that already at a very early stage, the
unborn child totally resembles people who have already been born into this
world, so that he or she at least has the same limbs. Lets go through these
development phases:
- Even though the new
individual is smaller than an apple seed at the age of two weeks, he or she is
enough to stop the menstruation cycle of the mother. From that moment on, the
unborn child affects his or her mother’s body throughout the pregnancy.
- At the age of about 3
weeks, the heart starts to pump blood to the child's own body. The blood group
can be different from the mother’s. A few days after this, we can see
rudimentary hands and legs.
- At about six weeks, we can
take an electroencephalogram (EEG) of the child's brain. Measuring it is very important,
because the end of a life is usually defined as the moment when all brain
activity ends.
- A 7–8 weeks old, a child
already has hands, legs, fingers, and toes as well as a face with the eyes,
nose, and mouth. Individual fingerprints will also be formed soon after this
and they will not change after this – except as comes to their size. At this
stage, the child is also able to grab with his or her hands and feel pain. Most
abortions are made during the 8th week of pregnancy.
- A 14-week-old child is the
same size as the palm of an adult and his or her heart pumps 24 liters of blood
every day. The features of the face start to resemble those of the parents
already at this stage.
- A 20–21-week-old child can
these days be kept alive also outside the womb, and stay alive. Children even
older than this are aborted in some countries.
Adoption IS ONE alternative
When we understand that
abortion is wrong, because it ends a human life (for example, in test tube
fertilization and certain contraceptive methods, such as using a coil, we face
the same ethical problem, because these can destroy any excess fertilized egg
cells), the only alternative left is carrying on with the pregnancy:
letting the child live. This should be done, because otherwise, we will destroy
the human life that has already begun.
The only
exception to this could be if the mother’s life is in danger. If the mother’s
life is in danger, it also means that that the child does not have any
possibilities to live because his or her life is connected with the life of his
or her mother. In these situations – which are, however, extremely rare – we
can understand that aborting the pregnancy may be justified.
On the other
hand, if you are pregnant and cannot take care of the child, you can also
consider other alternatives. In a situation where you feel that you cannot take
care of the child – for example, getting pregnant because you have been raped –
you might consider giving the child up for adoption. Sometimes adoption is the best
alternative. It can be the best alternative from the point of view of the
child, the mother, and also many childless couples. So if you are faced with
this situation and you do not perhaps have the ability to take care of your
child, it is worth your while to also consider this possibility as a good
alternative.
Perfect forgiveness
One mistake we often make is
that we do not think about issues in the light of eternity. We may think that
we only have this short life, and that is why we perhaps do not consider the
idea that there may also be life after this one.
However, when we
study the New Testament, we can see that after this life there will be
judgment, when all our actions and everything we have done during this life are
weighed. This can be seen from the next Bible verses. You, who have not
considered these matters yet, should consider the possibility that perhaps
these issues are true after all. They indicate that if we deliberately keep on
sinning and do not care about the consequences of our actions, we will not
inherit the kingdom of God:
- (1 Cor 6:9,10) Know you not that
the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- (Rom 14:12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God.
- (2 Cor 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he has done, whether it be good or bad.
The verses above indicate
that everyone will give an account of himself to God. If we live our heart hardened
and think that there will be no consequences for our actions, we are certainly
deceiving ourselves.
The good news, however, is that everything can be forgiven. The
Bible indicates that God has already prepared forgiveness for every one of us.
He has done this by sending His own Son to die for our sins. This took place
almost 2,000 years ago; and if you now turn to Jesus Christ and want to give
your life to Him, you can personally experience the forgiveness of your
sins (you can simply pray, "Lord Jesus, come into my life and forgive
me.”). This is told in the Bible:
- (Acts 13:38) Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that
through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins…
- (Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his
name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.
- (1 John 2:12) I write to you, little children, because your sins
are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Whether it is a question of abortion or
other issues you or other people may carry on your conscience, you can receive
forgiveness for those too. Even if you have committed great or small sins, you
will always have possibility to be forgiven. For example, the next example of
everyday life refers to this:
- Jesus has once hung on the cross so that you would receive forgiveness
for your abortion, I assure you. He suffered your punishment, because He loves
you.
- Yes, that is what I have
been listening to and tried to believe ever since you returned from your summer
holiday. Before that the forgiveness of the sins didn’t interest me. I thought
that I wouldn't be able to believe in the Creation and miracles. But now I
understand that it is much more difficult to believe in forgiveness. It feels
so – so selfish, quite too easy: if you only believe, you will be forgiven, and
you don’t have to pay for your sins.
- You Japanese haven't really
gotten used to getting anything for free. Even gifts must always be compensated
with other gifts.
- Quite so! Already when we
were small kids our mother told us that we must immediately give something in
return, otherwise we will lose trust in the eyes of our neighbors, assured the
women. - And of course there is also the proverb: Something that you have
gotten for free, will be expensive.
- The forgiveness of
sins isn't free either, because its price is the blood of the Son of God. But
He has already paid for it, there is no need for us to reconcile our sins
again.
- Is it true then that
everything will be forgiven when we ask God for forgiveness in the name of
Jesus?
- It is true. You can also
believe that all your sins have been forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ. (5)
REFERENCES:
1)
MAILIS JANATUINEN: Tapahtui Tamashimassa, p. 17
2) BERNARD NATHANSON: Antakaa
minun elää (The Hand of God), p.107.
3) BERNARD NATHANSON: Antakaa
minun elää (The Hand of God), p.123-124.
4)
BILL HYBELS: Kristityt seksihullussa kulttuurissa (Christians in a Sex Crazed
Culture), p.89-90.
5)
MAILIS JANATUINEN: Tapahtui Tamashimassa, p. 18
