Devotional Index

August Devotional

Dealing with Guilt

Many men and women who have been a part of the act of abortion deal with personal guilt. This guilt can be very overwhelming and life shattering. Some feel guilty but have no idea of its source. Others feel guilty and believe they have done wrong because of some kind of natural law and not because they have sinned against God, they may believe they have sinned against mankind. Still others clearly understand that they have sinned against God.

How does one deal with the guilt associated with an abortion? Can one who has had an abortion be forgiven by a Holy God? Can a doctor who has performed abortions be forgiven by a Just God? What about the one who forced a girlfriend, spouse, daughter or other loved one to have an abortion; can they be forgiven by a Righteous God? Must the one having had an abortion wear the scarlet letter “A” on their garment the rest of their life? Can any of these ever serve God with their life? The good news is that the Bible has clear answers to all of these questions.

The first step in dealing with one’s guilt is to recognize that abortion is immoral and that it is a sin against Almighty God. Simply recognizing ones sin is not enough; one must repent of their sin by confessing it to God and forsaking it. Proverbs 28:13 says, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. The good news is that God has promised to forgive mankind of his sin. I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is great news! God forgives those who recognize abortion as sin and confess it before Him.

If one has truly repented of their sins and been saved, the next step as a believer now is to realize that all their sin, including abortion, has been FORGIVEN! The Bible teaches that God no longer condemns the sinner, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). This is true because when repentance is made, God promised not only to forgive one’s sin but to cleanse a life of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). This includes every type of participation in abortion as well. Others may hold the sin against a person, but God does not. The story of the adulterous woman who was brought to Jesus beautifully illustrates this point in John 8:1-11. When Jesus had pointed out the guilt of those who had stood as her accusers and who had dispersed out of shame, Jesus asked, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Psalm 103 expresses God’s wonderful relationship with the repentant sinner. It is worth reading and taking to heart, Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed...The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: Neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth. So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust...But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them...bless the LORD, O my soul.

The last step in dealing with the guilt of abortion is to seek to serve the God who has forgiven the sin of abortion. Each believer is called to serve God wholeheartedly. A wonderful example of one’s serving our Savior is found in the gospels before Jesus went to the cross. Mary, the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead, took a pound of costly ointment and anointed Jesus, even washing his feet with her hair. Her sacrifice was equivalent to one year’s salary. Mary is an example of serving our Savior with all her heart. One’s pastor is an excellent source for finding help in knowing where one’s service would be most beneficial.

Each of these steps have been given for the person who has trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior. But if you do not have the assurance of knowing God on a personal level, the steps are much the same. First of all you must recognize your sin, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This sin has separated you from God and your penalty is death, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). The good news is found in Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It was in our needful state that God sent his only son to die in our place for our sins. The next step is to recognize this need and call upon him to forgive your sin and become your place for the sins you have committed. Romans 10:9-10 says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Verse 13 assures us, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you have prayed this prayer admitting your sin and recognizing that Jesus took your place on the cross, the Bible promises eternal life in Heaven with God!

A life forgiven by God, rescued from a life of sin, beautifully serving the Savior, is a life God can use to bring himself glory, regardless of the past. Please seek further counsel if you need to be saved or if you are seeking freedom from guilt for a past abortion. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).

Dr. F. Earon Fowler
Board Member of BFLW
Bible Baptist Church, Reedsburg