It had been a very difficult labor. With it being our first baby, we heard that labor could be several hours long. We had chosen to have a natural birth without drugs and the usual interventions. It was two weeks past the due date, and we were so anxious to hold this little blessing in our arms. After 33 hours of intensity, nearing complete exhaustion, and with little progress of dilation, we opted to have a C-Section. The loud cry announced the arrival of our son. He was perfect in every way and our long ordeal was over with a new journey awaiting us.
After sleeping for a few hours, I thought it was time to let our family know the exciting news. I called my sister’s house and her husband answered. I asked if she was available and he stated, “No – that she was at the hospital with my niece. That Penny was having her baby.” What he had deliberately kept from me was that her baby was stillborn. Within a half hour time period, a baby had been born and a baby had died in our family. Everyone had known the long ordeal I had just been through with our son’s birth and didn’t want to upset me with the news.
Penny was 15 years old when she got pregnant out of wedlock. Her baby was due six weeks after mine. At 16 years of age she was very ill-prepared to be a mother but did not want to abort the baby. She went into labor the same day I did – weeks early for her. My sister took her to the hospital to have an ultrasound done. As she walked down the hall from Penny’s room, she could hear her screaming. While conducting the ultrasound, the technician had discovered that the baby was dead and had told the facts to Penny while she was alone in the room. Since then, the protocol at that hospital has changed!
The sad fact is that we had a birth and death in our family on the same day. The emotions were raw, mixed, and unsettling. We were overjoyed with the birth of our son and so saddened at the loss of Penny’s little girl.
There will be another day which will involve both life and death. Our long ordeal as Christians in this sinful world will soon be over with a new birth-life journey awaiting us in heaven. But what a day that will be when Christ comes on a white horse to take the believers home and the unbelievers to their death.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:11, 15).
Jesus will come as a Judge and with strict justice. But Ellen White writes, “I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then, if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course, independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan’s decided attacks upon them.” LDE 242.1 Their fate had been sealed when probation ended and now it was too late.
“An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received “the seal of the living God.” Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands, and with a loud voice says, “It is done.” GC 613, LDE 229.3
We are all awaiting as the storm gathers, ready to burst upon the earth. We are all sinners in need of a life-giving Savior. But God has given us the choice as to whether we chose to live or die. In the dark womb of this world, will we decide to awaken to Jesus’ voice calling us to His world of light and life? Or will we be content in the darkness to stay and suffocate in our surroundings which lack nourishment and life? Satan wants us to be “dead on arrival.” Jesus wants his children to be “alive and well.” He has a heavenly nursery prepared for us to grow, thrive, and learn for eternity. How brokenhearted Jesus will be to not have all His children with him in the final resurrection. The Bible writes, “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
And just as my family was saddened to hear of the death of Penny’s daughter, how more so we as believers will be to witness the agony and death of unbelievers. They had heard the loud cry of our Savior and had disregarded it. “Many who hear the message – by far the greatest number – will not credit the solemn warning. Many will be found disloyal to the Commandments of God, which are a test of character” (LDE 210.2).
Jesus labored many long hours on the cross for us. Death was defeated with His ultimate sacrifice. He died giving birth to us! Let us all labor for Him in these end times so that no one suffers eternal punishment and death.
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Karen M. Phillips is happily married to her husband, John, and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is a Human Resources Manager, an ASI Mid-America Officer, and a Bible teacher. Together they support their world-wide ministry – HeReturns. She writes from Omaha, Nebraska, USA.