But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:14-15

In 2002 there was a law passed in Belgium which allowed doctors to perform euthanasia, often called "mercy killing," on patients who requested it.

Since then the law has been changed, broadened, if you will. Last year the nation's congress opened the practice up to children who were terminally ill, who understood what was happening to them, and had their parent's and physician's blessing. This year there is a good possibility the law will once more be amended and expanded.

This time the backers of the changes wish to make sure that everyone has a right to die if they wish. No, this has nothing to do with being terminally ill. In Belgium you don't have to be terminal in order to request -- and receive -- the physician's assistance to terminate your life.

No, this law says that doctors will give permission and assist someone to die if they request it. No longer will a doctor be able to plead he is morally and ethically opposed to helping someone end his own life. In other words, if a person asks his doctor for help, the doctor must give that assistance, or send his patient to another physician who will. The doctor can, if he feels the situation warrants, take his objections to a higher authority.

No longer is the Lord the One in control of life and death. God has been pushed to the side.

Soon the patient and the physician may no longer be in complete control. That is because the new laws wish to sideline the doctor's personal beliefs too. The rights of all these have been slowly and systematically set aside by the State.

Once again Satan is successfully using one of his oldest tricks. By that I mean he is convincing people that evil actions are able to produce good and God-pleasing results. They can't and they don't.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. James lays out the process that evil uses to turn us away from God. The first step comes when our desire lures us away from the Lord's guidance and direction. When we are convinced we know better than the Lord, our internal desire leads to actual, external sin. That sin, as we have seen in the lives of nations and individuals, leads to death.

Christians know there is a better way.

1 John 5:3-5 tells us "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

So, fellow believers, our path ought to be set. We who know God's love which has been given us in the Savior's sacrifice shall gladly follow the Lord's will rather than the murderous direction of the world. This we do because, as the disciples said, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29b).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may we see the blessed benefits to walking in Your light rather than the world's darkness. This we pray in the Name of our Risen Savior. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 26-27    Luke 7:1-30

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