Why is it that Rembrandt’s original painting “portrait of a man, half-length, with his arms akimbo,” sold for $33.7 million on December 8, 20091? Well, for starters, Rembrandt is a master artist and he’s famous. Furthermore, his paintings are valued because he is valued and because they are connected directly to him by his signature and unique style of painting.
So it is with us as God’s artworks. Genesis 1:27 reminds us that The Supremely Famous Master Artist, God, created us Himself and signs us with His signature, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” For these reasons, we are valuable, dignified, honorable, beautiful, and worth infinitely more than $33.7 million!
In many places the Bible clarifies that our value – our “sanctity” - as God’s crowning works of art does not depend on our age (conception to death), race, grades, location (petri dish, womb, wheel chair, deathbed), social status, nationality, weight, political affiliation, mental capacity, economic viability, or any other thing. Our value is irrevocably given by God and is confirmed by His infinitely worthy signature upon us.
So, we sanctify human beings. We hold them - all of them - in honor. That is why acts such as destroying embryos by experimentation, killing unborn babies, and euthanizing the infirm or elderly are so offensive. They are like slashing away at Rembrandt’s $33.7 million painting with a knife. They are destructive acts that violate God’s masterpieces in the most disgusting sense and disgrace their Creator.
Sadly, our culture is increasingly grabbing knives and running toward God’s image-bearers: us! The attack is multi-faceted. But there is hope. As God’s people who understand the basis of the sanctity of human life, we must graciously and tenaciously resist this evil onslaught.
A Churches for Life
Life Team exists to equip your church to as a gospel-driven “sanctifier” of human life! Click
here to find out more about a Life Team and contact us at
info@getintolife.org to talk about starting one at your church. Together, let us hold to the sanctity of human life!