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I had a birthday a couple of months ago and felt pretty good about being alive.
And then I ran across a report that put a damper on my day.
It was just a number.
Only a number.
It Was Just a Number
The number was in a chart showing the average lifespan for people in America.
That chart indicated that the average lifespan for Americans was 78.4 years. Now I have to admit I am approaching that number, but I still have a couple of years before I reach that milestone.
That’s not what bothered me.
There is a Difference Between Boys and Girls
What bothered me was that the chart indicated there are some disparities between various groups of people.
Specifically, the numbers indicate there is a difference between boys and girls.
Who can believe that statistics are not Woke.
Women have an average life expectancy of 81.1 years, but men only have an average life expectancy of 75.8 years.
That’s the number that put a damper on my day. You see, I am now 76 years plus a few months old, which means 75.8 years is now in my rear-view mirror. It made me think about how fragile life is.
The Bible describes my situation very clearly.
“… What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
James 4:14 (ESV)
Facing the prospect of becoming a vanishing mist, I thought I would see if there were some things I could do that might let me hang around a little longer.
So, I decided to check out the leading causes of death in America, just to see if there were any clues about things I could do to keep my body going.
Causes of Death
In 2023, approximately 3.1 million deaths were recorded in the United States1. That means about 8,470 die every day.
According to the government, the leading causes of death were:
Heart disease: 680,981 deaths
Cancer: 613,352 deaths
Unintentional injuries: 222,698 deaths
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 162,639 deaths
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 145,357 deaths
I asked ChatGPT if there was anything I could do to fight against those leading causes of death, and it gave me a number of specific suggestions that included things like regular medical checkups, improving my diet, losing weight, exercising, and taking my meds.
So, if I clean up my act and make good choices, maybe, just maybe, I can keep going for a few more years before I “shuffle off this mortal coil”.2
Then again, maybe I can’t control when my end will arrive.
The Bible gives me some advice about how I should live out my life.
“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah."
Psalm 39:4-5 (ESV)
As I was thinking about trying to live life well in the days I have left, I remembered that some people aren’t given that chance to live life well.
A Life Cut Short Before It Begins
The government’s list of leading causes of death left out one tragic reality: the millions of lives ended before they even have a chance to begin.
The Guttmacher Institute reported there were approximately 1,037,000 abortions in the United States in 2023. That works out to about 2,842 child murders every day.
Every single day.
Day after day.
About 2 every minute.
If abortions were added to the Top Causes of Death in the United States, it would far and away be the leading cause of death in the United States.
Those children who are aborted are not even given the opportunity to enjoy 81.1 years or 75.8 years. They are murdered before their journeys even begin.
Killing babies is not something new to our age. Those who reject God have been doing it throughout history. And God has been calling it out as evil for thousands of years.
From the Ten Commandments:
"You shall not murder."
Exodus 20:13 (ESV)
God has made it clear that He hates it when people shed innocent blood.
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood."
Proverbs 6:16-17 (ESV)
Killing one’s children is abominable in the sight of God.
"You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods."
Deuteronomy 12:31 (ESV)
But people have gone out of their way to build special places to their murder their children.
"And they have built the high places … to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind."
Jeremiah 7:31 (ESV)
People offered their children to their “gods” and sold themselves to do evil.
"And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger."
2 Kings 17:17 (ESV)
Children are a Gift from God
We need to understand that God is actively involved in creating human life in the womb.
"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 not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 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 was none of them."
Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
And we should know that children are a gift from God that should be treasured.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."
Psalm 127:3 (ESV)
Please pray for our country and ask God to forgive us for encouraging millions of babies to be killed. And pray that the people of our nation will turn to God.
We cannot change the past, but we can stand for truth today. We can choose to value life, defend the innocent, come along side of those who are facing unplanned or even unwanted pregnancies, and pray for a nation that has lost its way.
May we have the courage to do so.
There are organizations that can help you minister to people considering abortion. If you live in the Missoula area, you might want to check out CareNet. If you live outside of Missoula, check out PreBorn.
Before I go, I’d like to share a blessing with you from the Old Testament.
“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (The Living Bible)
Until next time … be the reason someone smiles today
From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1.
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