As of January 20, 2021, the Worldometer website reports that 2,072,643 people worldwide have died from the COVID-19 virus.[i] They also report that 412,109 Americans have died from the Coronavirus.

The progress of the virus and the efforts to combat it have been given nonstop news coverage for many months now. The global community has been horrified, as well it should be. These human deaths are shocking and tragic.

Would it surprise you to know that more human beings are murdered by abortion every year here in our country than the total of all who have died here from COVID-19? The CDC reported 619,591 abortions in 2018, the latest year they published data. [ii] That number only includes surgical abortions that are voluntarily reported. It is an artificially low number that doesn’t include the states of California, Maryland, and New Hampshire. Another source says that 3,500 babies are aborted every day in our nation. That means over 1.4 million die every year–more than three times the number that have died from COVID-19! [iii]

Where is the outrage? Where are the national plans being put into place to keep this from happening?

The worldwide statistics are even grimmer. Another source estimates that in 2020 alone more than 42 million babies were killed by abortion in the world. [iv] When all causes of death in 2020 are added together, deaths by abortion account for over 42% of the total.

Even though abortion is the leading cause of death in the world, it is often not even thought of as a pandemic. There are even those who celebrate abortion. Merle Hoffman, an abortion activist, proclaimed that “Abortion is as American as apple pie.”

No, it isn’t. It is a stain on the moral fabric of our nation. The loss of innocent life is tragic. Once a life is taken, it cannot be reversed. We look at these numbers and grieve, but what can we do? What can we do to prevent this?

First, we can remind ourselves and others that every life comes from God. “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). Life, including preborn life, is a sacred gift from God. Notice what King David told the Lord, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret. . .” (Psalm 139:13–15). Also, see Exodus 21:22–23.

Our country’s Declaration of Independence echoes this truth. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” It was President John F. Kennedy who said, “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”

Second, we must accept that all the arguments for or against abortion will not matter when we stand before the Creator. God’s opinion is the only one that will ultimately matter. Regardless of how appealing the arguments like “my body, my choice” sound, God hates murder because it destroys what He made. That is why God said, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus told some religious Jews that condoning murder is siding with Satan. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning….” (John 8:44). “… the Lord hates… hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16–17).

Third, we can’t lend our support to leaders who promote abortion. If we aren’t careful, we may think that abortion (the murder of the preborn) is just another in a long list of political positions. Murder is so horrible that we should never support a political leader who favors it, even if we agree with them on a lot of other issues.

Abortion is appalling, but there is a future beyond it. God has good news for all sinners.

Many of you have had, or know someone who has had, an abortion. (By the way, if you have pressured a woman to have an abortion, paid for it, or condoned it, you are just as guilty.)

There is no reason to despair, though. Murder, even of an innocent, unborn baby, is a sin that can be forgiven. Jesus gave His life to pay for our sins. When we repent and accept His forgiveness, He declares us innocent forever! If we will put our trust in Christ, then “…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). When God forgives, He “… will cast all [our]sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Also, see Jude verses 24-25.

If you have had an abortion, turn to Christ. He can forgive you and make you clean. If you have already turned to Christ, pray with me that our country will turn back to God and that He will have mercy on us. “… O LORD revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).

[i] https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

[ii] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6907a1.htm

[iii]https://www.lifenews.com/2020/01/10/61628584-babies-have-been-killed-in-abortions-since-roe-v-wade-in-1973/

[iv] https://themillennialmirror.com/trends/how-many-abortions-happened-in-2020/