I got to listen to my own unborn son’s heartbeat last week.
We first saw him in a dimly lit ultrasound room at our local women’s hospital. I’ve seen lots of friends’ ultrasounds and always marveled at God’s beautiful creation, but this time it was different. This was our son. This was his little head, his little body. His little hands.
Our doctor had me hold the screen she was using to view the ultrasound, and she smiled as she brought our baby into view.
“You’ve got a little jumping bean!” she said. She explained to us that some unborn babies move around a lot at this stage of development (12-14 weeks), though my wife wouldn’t start feeling his movements for another couple of weeks.
I watched my son jump on the ultrasound. Our doctor was having trouble pinpointing his heartbeat because he was moving so much, and I was having trouble not dropping the device because I was so full of joy. This was my precious little baby boy. This was my son. I’ve never felt so much desire to protect and provide for someone so small.
“160,” she said. “Your baby’s heartbeat is 160 beats per minute.”
I almost couldn’t contain myself. After our doctor left the room, I turned to my wife and said in the quietest exclamation possible, “Yes!!!!”
Science tells us that my son had cardiac activity at only four weeks of development, or six weeks of pregnancy. His heart was fully developed at ten weeks. Blood is pumping through his veins, and his limbs and organs continue to grow, and his life is being sustained by my wife’s womb and the Lord’s sovereign grace.
What an amazing, incredible, wonderful reality.
Here’s another amazing, incredible, wonderful reality: when someone becomes a Christian, he or she receives a new spiritual heart. The Lord promises in Ezekiel 36:26-28,
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
The heart that once beat for your own desires now beats for Christ’s desires. The same Lord who sustained your unsaved heartbeat is the one who keeps your new heart beating until He calls you home.
If you’re a Christian, marvel at your own heartbeat. Marvel that the Lord is keeping you alive and keeping you in the faith. Live your life for Him. Let every beat of your heart be for His glory.
If you’re not a Christian, consider your life. You’re being sustained by your Creator. You are made to know God and to make Him known. What mercy God has toward you! What unfathomable grace it is that though you disregard Him, He keeps your lungs breathing and your heart pumping. The Bible says in Romans 2:4, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Repent of your sins and trust in Jesus today as your Lord and Savior. You’ll receive that promised new heart, and you’ll get to experience a joyous, redeemed relationship with the God who created you and sustains you.
For those of us who are involved in sharing this good news with abortion-minded women and men, don’t lose sight of the beauty of a baby’s heartbeat and a person’s salvation. When we share gospel hope, we’re not just speaking truth – we’re involved in the divine work of heart replacement. Let’s not grow weary. He who called us is faithful.
My wife and I can’t wait to meet our son in October. It’s hard to be patient, and it’s also difficult to not worry. We’re learning to entrust our son to the faithful hands of his Creator.
As we wait with joy for my son’s birth, join me in celebrating the beauty of new life and the hope we have in our Savior.
