Octuplets Survive

It has happened only one other time. A California woman gave birth Monday to octuplets who survived. The six boys and two girls were born nine weeks premature and weighed in between a low of 1 pound, 8 ounces and a high of 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Doctors say that all eight are doing very well and breathing on their own, although they will remain in the hospital for about 2 months. Initially ‘only’ seven infants were expected to surface from the scheduled Caesarean birth, making the eighth a shock to everyone. The world's first live octuplets were born in March 1967 in Mexico City, but all the babies died during their first day. In 1998 octuplets were delivered in Houston, Texas. This time all but one survived.

Much praise for the delivery and survival of 8 infants is given to the medical staff – and rightly so. But even before that great feat, there should be the recognition of God’s hand in the equation as related by the Psalmist. “For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You.” (Psalm 71:6)

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul also recognized and revealed a great truth concerning his own conception and birth. In Gal 1:15-16 he wrote, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me.” But with that said, the first portion of his life was spent fighting in ignorance against that same God. So for him to live out his above mentioned destiny would require a radical change of heart and an all-new faith. The details of his great turn from a dead religion to a living relationship with the true God can be seen in Acts 9. It culminates with words confirming Paul’s conversion to Christ in verse 6. “So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"

When pondering the stunning miracle of human birth, whether eight at once or one at a time, an all-important question arises concerning the spiritual destiny of each child. Are they separated from the womb, as was Paul, to some great eternal purpose for God? Or will they follow their own path and turn their backs on the One who fearfully and wonderfully formed them in secret? (Psalm 139:13-15) That question is obviously impossible to answer at birth. But one thing is for certain. There is never a single child born, in any way or at any time, who is not infinitely loved by his or her Creator. (John 3:16)

In addition, God’s intense love fuels His great longing that all who have been formed by Him would eventually turn in faith to Him – a conclusion based squarely on 1 Timothy 2:2-4. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Salvation is priority one with God. But His one procedure to achieve that is seen in His Son’s words in John 3:5. “Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Bill Breckenridge