Two Windows of the Ultrasound

Throughout history, God has given man particular instruments that have permitted insight into His creation that in the past only God Himself was able to see and enjoy. In the last several hundred years some of these instruments have allowed us to peer deep into His creation wherein we have been able to learn great and wonderful things about his creation and God Himself. One such instrument is the telescope. It permits us to gaze into the astonishing beauties and majestic wonders of the universe. Such sights have revealed to us many wonders that before were unknown. The telescope also shows us many awesome things about the God who has created this marvelous universe. As the Psalmist cries out, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19: 1-3

Another such instrument is the microscope. It has afforded us the opportunity to view different wonders so small and so minuscule that without such an aid it would be impossible to ever enjoy such magnificent sights. Such opportunities leave us in awe of both the creation and its astonishing Creator.

In modern times the ultrasound is another such incredible instrument. It, too, allows us to observe for the very first time the wonders of God creating and developing life in the womb. Such an instrument has given us two very unique windows. One is a window into the womb of the mother where we can see the handiwork of God. In Psalm 139:13-16 we can witness the truth to this where it says:

“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 hidden from
you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every
one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were
none of them.”

The second window allows us to glimpse beyond the visible to the invisible. As
Romans 1:20 says:

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and
divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in
the things that have been made.”

The ultrasound gives us the unique ability to perceive his invisible attributes, his eternal power, and divine nature. We can clearly observe the majesty and glory of God as he shines forth in the creation of the child in the womb. When viewing her baby through the ultrasound, the mother begins to see what is described in Romans. The creation of the child in her womb is a personal witness to the existence and goodness of God although she may not understand all the facets and implications of what she is seeing and feeling at the time. The child she sees cries out to the existence, greatness, and glory of God.

The miracle of the ultrasound, in combination with the written word of God, not only exposes the child in her womb but also exposes reality and involvement of the Creator with the child. We can clearly see through the ultrasound that God is a God of beauty, goodness, love, grace, mercy, and sovereignty. He is surely a God of life and good news! The ultrasound demonstrates God’s creativity (the baby) and His love, and care of the child in the womb.

Such a situation also points to the special calling of the mother to love, protect, nurture and care for her unborn child. In other words, by God’s involvement with both the mother and the child, it evidences that both are taking part in a sacred relationship and event. A child is a special gift. That says something about God’s special relationship with the mother. He has given her the gift of life!

The ultrasound demonstrates the sacredness and preciousness of life as well as giving to the mother a further bonding experience that only she and God can experience. God’s written word, working in conjunction with the ultrasound, begins the witness of God.

First of all, the ultrasound proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that what is in her womb is human life, her baby. She begins to see with her own eyes the preciousness of this child that shows her about the God who created her and her child. Building upon the biblical counseling, the helper can easily discuss with her the preciousness of life and the sacrifice of God when he sacrificed Christ his only Son on the cross to give eternal life to others.

The ultrasound and God’s written Word are a very powerful combination of natural revelation (creation) and special revelation, (Scripture). In natural or general revelation, God the creator is self-revealed in his work of creation. (Rom. 1:20) Through such revelation, the mother can come to a certain general knowledge about the nature and character of God. But general revelation about God is insufficient when it comes to the mother’s deepest and most pressing problem, which is her broken relationship with God.

The basic problem is that she is a sinner in need of forgiveness and reconciliation to God. The answer to the problem of sin and a broken relationship is not given to us through natural revelation. The picture the ultrasounds displays does not tell us anything about Christ, His cross, grace, mercy or Christ’s dying love for sinners. That message only comes to the client through special revelation, which is the Bible, God’s written word. It is the Bible that tells her about Christ and His redemptive work. It is only through God’s written word that one learns salvation is a free gift of God and that one is saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. A key to understanding the potential of the ultrasound and how it can be used is to help the client understand that abortion, in its most basic sense, is much more than just taking physical life but ultimately the decision is a spiritual one. According to scripture, man is created in the image of God; therefore, abortion is the destruction of His image in the womb of the mother and an indirect attack upon God Himself (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9). It is a sin issue that has its roots in the fall and has affected the heart and judgment of the client. It is a transgression of God’s sixth commandment (Exodus 20:13) and a violent rejection of the commandment to love one’s neighbor (Mark 12:31). We see this modeled for us by our Lord Himself.

It is also an issue of truth. For declaring the child to be anything less than what God has declared the child to be is giving false testimony against one’s neighbor, which includes her child (Exodus 20:16).

Lastly, abortion is a revolt against the Creator King. Anyone who commits abortion has proclaimed himself to be his own god and morally autonomous, determining good and evil (Genesis 3:5) according to the desires and dictates of his own fallen nature. Making oneself a god (Exodus 20:3) is nothing less than the creation of one’s own personal and private religious system. To do so is in direct opposition to the truth that God has revealed in His Word (Judges 17:6; 21:25; Romans 1:19-26) and the mother knows down deep in her heart. (Rm. 1: 18-21;Rm. 2:15)

Therefore, the Bible teaches us that abortion is first and foremost a heart issue (Matthew 15:18-20) Mark 7:21-23; Luke 6:43-45; Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9-10). The woman’s only lasting hope is to be found in Jesus Christ (I Timothy 1:1; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). The unregenerate heart is truly sinful, deceitful, and in desperate need of change and renewal (Jeremiah 17:9-10; Ezekiel 36:26; Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:12-19; II Corinthians 5:17). Scripture is clear that permanent change and renewal can come only through the re-creative work of the Holy Spirit and the client’s response (I Corinthians 15:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Romans 10: 13-17; James 1:18).

Because of this firm conviction, Hope National has dedicated much of its resources and time to teaching, training, and encouraging pregnancy centers in the use of biblical counseling for their clients. It is only through counseling, guiding, encouraging, and loving clients biblically that we will see a lasting and permanent change in our clients’ lives both now and for eternity (Romans 10:9-17; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:17-18).

The most powerful and important question in the abortion issue is: Why would a woman choose pregnancy termination? Lawrence H. Tribe, who is a leading constitutional lawyer for the pro-abortion movement, states in his book, Abortion: The Clash of Absolutes:

“Polling data suggest that if the pro-choice movement is to maintain its momentum, it cannot let the pro-life side shift the debate to why a woman wants any given abortion. The movement’s current popular appeal clearly depends on keeping the questions focused on who will make the decision.”

When examining the question through Scripture, what are the underlying reasons and motives that cause women to consider terminating a pregnancy? Why do some find it difficult to choose life? Clearly, there are various rationalizations but the conflict between one’s personal desires and God’s commands are at the core of all such struggles (Proverbs 16:2; I Corinthians 4:4-5; Hebrews 4:12). Mr. Tribe’s fears need to be brought to light and openly talked about the Why question!

In fact, the spiritual aspects of abortion are being addressed ever more frequently by the pro-abortion movement. They know the fetus is an unborn child, yet they claim the reasons to abort are so overwhelming, private and spiritual that the child must be sacrificed for the physical, psychological, and spiritual health of the mother. Abortion is oftentimes deceptively presented as the only “loving choice” for both the mother and baby.

In a book chillingly entitled, The Sacrament of Abortion, the author states:

“Abortion is a sacred act that is an expression of maternal responsibility and not a failure of maternal love.” She further states: “issues of life and death, of love and children, are religious or at least spiritual issues” and “the Judeo-Christian values which may have seemed necessary, perhaps even redemptive, some two thousand years ago now appear more and more irresponsible and infinitely crueler than abortion.”

She classifies abortion as a ‘kind of sacrifice’ to the goddess Artemis, who the author admits had a reputation for liking bloody sacrifices, including human ones.” (Acts 19:24-25, 35)

There is no doubt that from a biblical point of view, and even from an increasingly “spiritual” pro-abortion perspective, the basis of abortion is understood as a spiritual issue. The website of a well-known abortion provider advertises that his clinic has a program that provides certificates of baptism for aborted babies. This website is so well done that unless one knows exactly what abortion is all about, one would think this abortionist is a most compassionate and loving man, caring for the spiritual well-being of both parents and child!

The ultrasound gives the helper a wonderful opportunity to give the client hope, hope for both her and her unborn baby. The God who has created and bestowed such a miraculous gift upon the mother is also a God of promises and love.

APPLICATION

As well as understanding the spiritual issues about abortion, it is important to understand the incredible instrument God has given in ultrasound. By placing them together you have a powerful presentation of both natural and special revelation to the abortion minded/vulnerable woman.

The question may arise: “Well that sounds wonderful but how do I implement this in the pregnancy center medical clinic?” While it is true that each center may have its own procedures regarding ultrasound, it is at this point you have the opportunity to bring a tangible application of what she has already heard. Combined with the biblical counseling she has received she is now seeing the image of God in her womb. You have spoken to her about the triangles. She has been instructed how God has created this child. The gospel has been shared and she has heard how God sent His only child to pay for her sins through his life, death, and resurrection and we all have the opportunity to come to Christ so that we too may spend eternity with him. Now the ultrasound illuminates the marvels of God’s hand knitting the child together. There is a powerful image that stares back at the woman when she is watching the ultrasound. The expression, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’, is put into full force at this point. Take this opportunity to reinforce the fact that this child is created and designed for a purpose and a plan. Reiterate the points of the biblical counseling and reinforce that the mother herself has a purpose and plan designed by God. She is now seeing the witness of God in the picture the ultrasound brings into clear focus.

The combination of the ultrasound and the power of the Gospel presentation is the most powerful presentation that you will ever see and can be given. There is nothing more exciting than having the privilege to present the Gospel to a client and watching the Holy Spirit apply that message to their hearts and lives.

Reverend James Dundas