Life, the First Right

By Dave Kubal

The very first gift God gave us is life. Human history begins with the Lord forming Adam’s body and breathing life into it. Then, at the focal point of history—the cross of Christ—God makes a way for our spirits and our bodies to live again: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Our nation’s Founders were right to recognize the fundamental truth that God cherishes human life, which earthly authorities are entrusted with respecting and defending.

Every one of our individual stories—not to mention our collective story as the human race—starts with God forming and breathing life into us.

 

Dangerous Path

It’s no secret that we as individuals and as a nation have made choices that are sending us down a dangerous path.

In 2023, Americans welcomed the births of 3,596,017 babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This represents a two percent decrease from the prior year and the lowest number since 1979. In that same year, the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute reports 1,025,690 prenatal lives were terminated, which researchers estimate was the highest number in more than a decade.

Let’s tease out this bad news. First, fewer babies are being born. Second, there are more abortions. More than one in five babies was aborted. Twenty-two percent of those who were to be in the graduating class of 2041—gone! When was the last time we grieved together over the loss of so many neighbors and loved ones whom we will never know?

Actually, it is even worse: While we should remember that truly complicated and lose-lose, life-threatening situations do occur in some pregnancies, far too many abortions are the result of an abortion-on-demand culture that preys on fear. It’s not that individuals were not given the chance to live. It’s that their lives were taken.

If we embrace human life as a gift and an inalienable right—a human right—given to us by God, then abortion on demand is one of America’s most egregious human rights abuses. It is a scourge that has destroyed tens of millions of prenatal lives since the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling of 1973, and it continues to corrupt hearts, minds, and the very underpinnings of our land.

Battle Remains

Of course, we rejoiced when the Dobbs case overturned Roe after nearly 50 years. But the battle for life is far from over. Just listen to how the news media flood the airwaves and the Internet. More and more, abortion is embraced by “progressive” activists and their political allies as something to celebrate. Further, both major political parties support the abortion pill and laws that allow abortion during part of pregnancy.

Not only that, but the abortion conflict has in effect now shifted from the federal to the state level. Lawmakers in many states have set out to alter their state constitutions to enshrine a so-called “right” to abortion. In a sense, we now face the possibility of 50 Roe v. Wade wars instead of just one.

We must continue to intercede for our land in the face of this horror. Abortion is far more than a political issue. It is a deadly crisis in our communities. But this is not a hopeless battle—far from it.

Prayer Points

We must both pray and “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Pray for a generation: Roe v. Wade seemed like an unassailable stronghold for abortion in our land. Thank God for the overturn of that tragic ruling. And let us double down on our prayers for God’s victory on the state level.

Pray for those government and other community leaders who boldly stand up for the sanctity of life. Ask for clear and winsome messages that sway hearts and minds as they try to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Pray for a covering of protection over pro-life pregnancy-care centers in the face of threats from abortion activists. May community members understand the help and services that such centers provide for vulnerable mothers and children.

Pray that hearts and minds will change on abortion. Pray that Christians will advocate for the value of life from conception to natural death. Then pray that this fundamental truth would take hold in the nation.

 

Almighty God cares about human life. He will bring victory as we work to advance a culture that honors the sanctity of human life.

DAVE KUBAL is CEO and president of Intercessors for America. This article is excerpted from his book We Declare: 31 Days of Intercession for America.