I do not know exactly when I became a grandfather, but I know that for over eight months now I have been one. So far, I have not held my grandson though he lives nearby. I have seen only a black and white fuzzy image of him dating back a few months, but that is okay. I am not bothered by all of that. He moves around, and he is on the move.You see, my grandson lives in his mother’s womb. That makes me a grandfather. Some dear people, hearing of the baby “on the way,” have asked me whether I will be excited when I become a grandfather. I tell them sweetly that I already am a grandfather. Some nod knowingly, and others take a moment to think and to understand. So far, all have realized the meaning and agreed.
Human life, as we know it, most certainly begins at conception, when God intervenes in this world to exercise His creative powers once again, just as He did “In the beginning . . .” Life is owned, possessed, and granted by God. He gives life, and He preserves life.
To think that somehow, an action of a human can make a living fetus into a human being, whether it be the act of birthing or the declaration of a decree that life begins at such and such moment is patently ridiculous. God claims throughout Scripture by word and by deed that He is Lord over all life. He is strikingly clear about His role in human life. God creates human beings, forming them in the womb, a person at every point. And God knows every person before the forming begins.
In Genesis 1 and 2, clearly, God created the species, man, which we now call Homo Sapiens. In other words, God “invented” human life, man and woman.
Jeremiah described God’s ongoing creative formation of children in the womb.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Read the verse again. This time emphasize the word, “before.”
The Psalmist concurs.
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)
God opens and closes the womb. (Genesis 20:18; 29:31; 30:22; 1 Samuel 1:5-20; et al)
A passage little referenced in this context is found in Romans 4, in which we read the following account of Abraham’s faith.
“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Romans 4:19-21)
How could God have kept His promise unless He is God over the womb and over the creation of new human life? Of what value would Abraham’s faith have been? God is the creator of all life at all times, including human life today.
God created my grandson. He has given life to my grandson. He is forming my grandson.
My grandson already is. He is alive today.
I am a grandfather.
