THE VALUE OF LIFE
Psalm 139:13-16
By:
Brian D. McMasters

INTRODUCTION:

		
		The church has received more criticism for it's stand on this issue than any 
		other topic

		The defense of the unborn is an important topic on which the church must 	
	take a stand!

		The Church of God believes that abortion, euthanasia of aged, 		
	mentally incompetent, terminally ill and otherwise handicapped, for reasons 	
	of personal convenience, social adjustment or economic advantage, are 	
	morally wrong.	


Life is Valuable . . .


I.	BECAUSE GOD CREATED LIFE AND SUSTAINS LIFE

	A.	God alone confers life, God alone must decide when it is ended.

		1.	The world teaches that life is based on chance
		2.	Our departure from life is based on little more than a whim
		3.	We know that there is a God who created us, who sets the rules
		4.	According to Psalm 139 a child is a person at conception	
	
	B.	We are all a part of God's plan

		1.	The potter and the clay
		2.	God molds us into what He would have us to be
		3.	We exist because He wished us to be
		4.	He knew us before we were born - He foreknew us

	C.	Job 34:14, 15 - If He withdrew His Spirit, all mankind would perish

THE VALUE OF ONE LIFE							                 
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II.	Life is Valuable . . .BECAUSE WE ARE SHAPED IN GOD'S IMAGE

	A.	Genesis 1:26 
	
		1.	Being in His image gives us worth
		2.	Just as a child has worth to it's parents, we have worth to God
		
			a.	This is the reason we reproduce
			b.	We love our children with no strings attached
			c.	We have worth to God because He is our Father
			d.	Romans 1:26 - Unnatural affection

	B.	Matthew 10:29-31 

		1.	Sparrow - We are worth more than many sparrows

			a.	We are the only part of creation in His image
			b.	Every life is valuable because it is valuable to God 
		
		2.	Number of hairs on our head
		3.	Illustration: Man walking the seashore throwing starfish back into 	
		the sea. A passerby asked why are doing this. You can't save all of 		
	these starfish! It's useless! What does it matter! The man picked up 		
	a starfish and answered, It matters to this one, as he tossed it back 		
	into the sea, into life.

III.	Life is Valuable . . . BECAUSE GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH OF LIFE

	A.	We were created on purpose, for a purpose

		1.	Psalm 139:16 - All the days ordained for me were written . . . 	
		before one came to be.
		2.	God has a specific plan or will for each life!

	B.	God can use anyone for His purpose

		1.	Illustration:	One teacher gave the following situation to a class 	
		of students: "How would you advise a mother who was pregnant 		
	with her fifth child based on the following facts. "Her husband had 		
	syphilis.  She had tuberculosis.  Their first child was born blind.  		
	Their second child died.  Their third child was born deaf.  Their THE VALUE OF 
ONE LIFE							             Page 3			

			fourth child had tuberculosis. "The mother is considering an 	
			abortion.  Would you advise her to have one?" 
   			In view of these facts, most of the students agreed that she should 	
		have an abortion. 
   			The teacher then announced, "If you said 'Yes' you would have just 
			killed the great composer Ludwig von Beethoven!" 

		2.	Marshall & Susan had a daughter they named Mandy. She had 	
		microephaly (small brain). She would never walk, talk sit up or use 	
		her hands. She only lived two years. She became "the churches kid" 	
		Stranger would often ask about her leading to discussions about 		
	why does this happen, etc. 
			After Mandy died, her father wrote, "God's assignment for Mandy 	
		was to live without many resources I previously took for granted. 		
	But His purpose for her was as significant as for any other . . . 		
	Could a sightless, wordless, helpless infant who lived to be only 		
	two years old ever be a successful human being? If success is 		
	fulfilling God's purposes, I consider Mandy wildly successful."

		3.	Our human life is not sacred because of what we can do, but 	
		because of what we are

			a.	We are God's creation

			b.	We are in God's image
			c.	We are part of God's plan


CONCLUSION:

		Your life is valuable - Don't listen to the lie of Satan & the world

		You are valuable to God!

			Are you considering suicide?
			Are you considering abortion?
			Are you faced with the decision of letting a life go?

			Are you living with the guilt of letting a life go in the past?

			Bring it to God today!