There is a lot of debate around when life begins and when a life can be taken. The answers should be obvious but the obvious seems to be not so obvious on a lot of fronts these days. Arguments are percolating across the nation as state legislatures work to draft effective legislation on life after the Supreme Court determined recently that it had stepped out of its judicial lane fifty years ago.

For a beautiful perspective on the debate, check out LIFEMARK, a wonderful movie being released this month. It is yet another powerful Kendrick Brothers production and is a must see! Based on the true story of a young girl that chose adoption as an option over abortion, a real life journey in love, family, faith, forgiveness and restoration is experienced.

“All who have come before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:8-10. “I am the Gate.” This is the third of Jesus’ nine “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. The first was, “I am the Bread of Life,”- Jn.6:35, when He introduced the concept of an eternal perspective for us to focus on in present times. The second was, “I am the Light of the world,”- Jn.8:12, through which He said He would provide clarity through dark times in this world. Then here, in John 10, as “the Gate”, He conveyed His role as the One to provide access to the Kingdom of God. Man’s role is to let God be God and to glorify Him throughout life. The temptation for man to be his own god, and the titillation of other gods at work to “steal and kill and destroy” life, are to be rebuked in the power of the resurrected Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Life begins at conception and ends when the Lord calls one Home. Man has choices on how to live between those points. To try to control the beginning or the end, is a rebuke to God. This is not a good place to be. C.S. Lewis has famously stated, “There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done.’ And those to whom God says, ‘Okay, thy will be done.’” The charge to dads is to let God be God, lead family under a Biblical worldview, and raise a generation that knows the Gate that is open for all to “have life, and have it to the full.”

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for Your “I AM” statements. I confess that as a nation, we have stepped in to be our own god by taking the life of over sixty-million unborn children since 1973. Forgive US. I praise You for opening my eyes to an eternal perspective and for being the Light that provides clarity through dark times in this world. I pray for every dad and family to have life, and have it to the full through You. It is in Your strength that all can recognize and rebuke the temptations other gods stir up to steal, kill and destroy. I commit to lead my family under Your word and point them to the Gate that is open to a personal relationship with You. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father has life, and has it to the full in relationship with Jesus the Christ.