Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK

“The Sanctity of God’s Wisdom”
“…before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep…” – Proverbs 8:26-27
I think Solomon has made his point perfectly clear—that before anything came to exist…before mankind took their first steps upon the earth…before life and the earth as we know it began its orbit around the sun—God’s life was already at work. He was simply waiting to find those who He could plant that life into—and here we are—and unfortunately for far too many He is still waiting. Everything Solomon has described in the past few verses has to do with life. The life that was designed for us to live…and the life that is to be cherished. Again, something that far too many take for granted either in regards to their own existence or in how they treat others. I am unapologetically “Pro-Life.” I believe without hesitation that God created life and that all life is sacred. This belief goes beyond the abortion issue—and it has everything to do how I live my life, how I take care of (or should take care of) my body. It impacts how I treat the people in my life or how I need to be treating people in general. And yes…it has a great deal to do with the abortion issue as well. Kay James is the Secretary of Health and Human resources in the Virginia state government. She is a middle-class black woman who is firmly pro-life. Once, during an abortion debate, a woman in the audience angrily told James she was so middle-class she didn't have a clue about real African-American life. "If you really understood what these women go through," the woman said, "you would realize that abortion is their only choice." James then asked the woman to consider a poor black mother on welfare. She already has four children and an alcoholic husband who has all but abandoned the family. Now she discovers another child is on the way. "How would you counsel that woman?" asked James. "Have an abortion," the woman responded. "That child would have a very poor quality life." "I have a vested interest in your answer," Mrs. James said. "The woman I just described to you was my mother. I was the fifth of six children born into poverty. And, in case you're interested, the quality of my life is just fine!" Much like Mrs. Kay James, my life could have taken a similar turn. I was born into a situation where I was by every stretch of the description, an unwanted pregnancy. It was several years before abortion became a legal option—and though it could have been performed it was not. In response to that I have enjoyed 52 years on this earth and look forward to many more. Maybe it is for the reason I just described that I appreciate what this life means and why I attempt to live it with passion and purpose. Maybe it is why I relish all that God has to offer—meaning the mountains, rivers, valleys, oceans, and yes even the deserts. Each day is a gift that God has given and I want to be a part of it. I do not live blindly. I, like every other individual have days and situations that can be “challenging” to say the least—but I approach those challenges with the knowledge that I am not alone! I have the Creator of Life beside me to walk me through the valleys…over the mountains, above the oceans and across the deserts. Give life (and the people in it) your best because God created things that way. Not everyone or everything will return the favor—but do not allow the “unfairness” of life prevent you from being the person you were designed to be.
Pastor J. T. Carnell