Wednesday, January 17, 2018

January 18, 2018

"And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” II Samuel 12:15-23

Few things could be more painful than losing a child to death. Perhaps there is nothing more painful than that. Only those who have lost a child can know.

Some of us have suffered a miscarriage and as hard as that was I'm sure it pales by comparison.

In this snapshot from the life of King David we get a glimpse of his grief over losing the child he had with Bathsheba.

That grief suddenly and surprisingly takes a 180 degree turn as he arises, freshens up and goes into the house of worship.

Not knowing what to make of this dramatic change his servants asked him about it. His reply was that God did not answer His prayer to spare his child so now he would have to prepare himself to someday go to rejoin his child.

This is a strong affirmation of his faith in God.

It is a strong affirmation of his hope in eternity.

It is a strong statement of faith that his child was living in eternity.

It is a confident assertion of his belief that he too would live eternally upon his death.

How can you be sure you and your child will be reunited in eternity? 

Do babies go to Heaven?

The Bible gives several hopeful verses to help you find assurance:

"And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it." Deuteronomy 1:39

This verse refers to the grace God would provide to the children of those Israelites who would die in the wilderness because of their failure to enter into Canaan at the Lord's command. They would not be judged for the sins of their parents.

"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10

In this verse Paul lists sins that will keep people out of Heaven if they commit any of them. That implies there must be a willful decision to rebel against God and how can an innocent unborn child do that?

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." II Corinthians 5:10

Again, here's a verse from St. Paul asserting that judgment will be based on immoral decisions made while alive in the earthly body. But since an infant child is innocent and incapable of making moral decisions God will hold them free of sin and judgment.

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." Revelation 20:12

Once again there is reason for hope for the innocent child who dies in infancy or who is murdered in the womb by the abortionist. John's peek into the Judgment reveals once more that judgement is based on deeds done in the flesh. An unborn baby and a newborn child have no opportunity or awareness to commit a willful sin against God.

So, do babies go to heaven when they die?

Yes they do!

Do unborn babies who are murdered in the womb go to heaven?

There can be no doubt.

I'm sure this will be small consolation to someone who has lost an infant child. But it shines a ray of hope into the darkness of their grief and sorrow.

And it is all because of the mercy of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.