A Light Shines in the Darkness

In the darkest place on earth, where innocent babies die by the scores each day, a light shines. Every single day that the busiest abortion center in Charlotte is open, teams of volunteers from Cities4Life gather. They are armed with prayer, love, and a deep desire to share the hope and love of Jesus in a place where there is no hope.

On this past Monday, two women chose life over abortion. One who came to us weeping admitted that God had been speaking to her on her entire long drive to the center. She expected to come to a quiet, secluded building, walk in, abort her child, and leave. It would be sad, but it had to be done.

However, as she drew near, the sidewalk was filled with volunteers. Many children were there as well. A huge RV was in front of the building, with signs promising free ultrasounds, free counseling, resources, and hope. A prayer tent stood on the corner, with women bowed in prayer. On the microphone, another volunteer was speaking of the sacred value of all human life, made in the image of God.

Volunteers stood on the side of the street, offering frantic quick counsel, and pamphlets with information and resources. She pulled into the parking lot of the abortion center anyway, knowing God was sending her yet another message. All those people are here proclaiming the sanctity of life. She averted her eyes and tried to close her ears. Though she went into the center, she emerged a short time later. As she drove out of the parking lot, she stopped, rolled down her window and told us, "I can't do it. Can I get your free ultrasound?"

I was the lucky one who had the joy of counseling this sweet woman. Her heart was broken over what she had contemplated doing. When she saw her precious baby on the ultrasound, his face was so clear, it was almost as though he were in her arms. He held one hand to his mouth, and the other arm was stretched straight up, as though he were praising God. I told her he was thanking God for his mama. She told us, "He will be a wonderful baby for some family who could not otherwise have one." She decided then and there she would deliver her baby, and place him for adoption.

We gave her information about maternity resources in her area as well as adoption resources and numbers to call. We loaded her arms with pamphlets, gifts, and of course, a Bible. I shared the Gospel with her, and she listened intently, eyes brimming with tears. I told her the hope and promise of Jesus was available to her now, this very moment. With shining eyes, she told me she wanted to accept His gift of salvation secured for her by His sacrificial death on the Cross now. We prayed as she gave her life to Christ.
"How do you feel now?" I asked her.
"So much better than when I was fighting God!"

CS Lewis said: Remember, though we struggle against things because we are afraid of them, it is often the other way round—we get afraid be- cause we struggle. Are you struggling, resisting? Don’t you think Our Lord says to you ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Let go, I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?’

In the darkest place on earth, where innocent babies die by the scores each day, a precious soul stopped struggling against God and chose life for her baby, and herself. At least for that moment, light chased away the darkness.

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if interested in how you can help, go to charlotte.cities4life.org
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John 3:19 

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Job 26:10

He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

Genesis 1:1-31 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

2 Corinthians 6:14 

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Genesis 1:3 

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

1 John 2:9-11

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 1:7 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.