Destruction Before Finding God

A young lady deeply burdened over a recent abortion unexpectedly answered  my text. She had been on my heart from the moment I met her on the sidewalks of the abortion center, so I texted her telling her I was praying for her and wanted her to know I was here if she wanted to talk. She had been avoiding my questions about whether she'd been coerced to abort, but now admitted she had aborted her child. She didn't know how God could forgive her. I told her I knew how. Would she like to hear? She said she would.

I shared the Gospel, carefully building from the bad news (we are all dead in our sin and doomed!) to the Good News (Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin and we are set free when we accept this incredible gift.)

I spoke about sin, sorrow over sin, how sin separates us from God, but how desperately God loves us and wants us to return to Him. I explained what it means to truly repent, and how true repentance involves turning from sin with revulsion and horror over what it cost Jesus. I spoke about His mercy and grace that is as perfect as His justice, and how all came together at the cross. The penalty for sin was paid, justice was served,  God's mercy was extended, and we are forgiven and eternally secure in our salvation. We talked a long time.

She told me she understood now in a way she never had. I asked her if she wanted to accept Jesus right now as Lord and Savior. She said she did. So we prayed together, and this wounded, sorrowful woman was immediately ushered into God's holy presence.

It never gets old, walking alongside a precious soul finding the source of all comfort.

I am very sad that she aborted her child. The sorrow and despair of terrible sin and its consequences are regretably what it sometimes takes before we submit to the authority and plan of God. I am grateful that God had placed her on my heart and that He filled me with words of His comfort, not condemnation.

What a woeful world that so much destruction precedes so many of our paths back to God. How gracious of God to devise a plan where somehow we can wade through the wreckage and grasp His scarred hand that lifts us from the grave we have been digging for ourselves.
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John 3:17-21 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Psalm 60:5 

That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!