Sin, Pardon, and Judgement: A reflection on the Lucy Letby story

On the cross, as Jesus died were two thieves crucified on either side of Him, condemned to the same agonizing fate. While one of the malefactors joined the crowd to mock and revile Him, the penitent thief, in an act of awakening, rebuked him, rebutting that, unlike Christ, they were indeed guilty of their crimes and justly punished. Recently, Lucy Letby, a neonatal nurse, was found guilty of the murder of 7 newborn babies and guilty of 7 counts of attempted murder relating to 6 babies. She reportedly murdered the little ones by injecting air into their blood and stomachs, overfeeding them with milk, physically assaulting them, and poisoning them with insulin. The deceased babies ranged anywhere from 21 - 34 weeks and infants who survived were left severely disabled. Deeply troubling and horrific acts for which she is now dubbed "the worst baby killer in modern British history." Yet, in the shadow of this horror, an unsettling comparison emerges. Thousands of babies of similar gestational age to those who fell victim to Letby's malevolence are murdered 'legally' every year in the UK. There were 123,219 abortions in England and Wales in the first half of 2022 alone. Statistics suggest about 1-1.5% of all abortions occur after 21 weeks, including disability-selective (ground E) abortions, but the actual statistics could be much higher. Under the UK abortion law, these babies are "medically disposed of" by a grotesque procedure known as dilation and evacuation (D&E). According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, "these particularly gruesome surgical techniques involve crushing, dismemberment and removal of a fetal body. Vacuum aspiration is used between 3 and 12 weeks, where the fetus is removed by suction. Dilatation and evacuation is used between 13 and 24 weeks, where the fetus is removed using forceps [to rip apart and extract the baby limb by limb]." At 22 weeks, most babies are usually "given an injection so that it is not alive during the abortion process." What to say? Whose is the greater guilt? Which is more evil? For which is there more public outrage [and rightfully so], the 7, or the tens of thousands of children brutally murdered with no end in sight? Which child is more betrayed? The loved one who dies at the hands of a caregiver, or the one rejected, killed at the behest of his/her own mother? Whose the more unkind deed? Let God be the judge. The contrast of interest here is one akin to the penitent thief. As the story goes, his admission of guilt and belief in the Son of God right there on the cross was all it took for his sins to be forgiven and for him to have a place in heaven. “I am evil,” one of the notes Lucy Letby allegedly wrote read. “I don’t deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough to care for them. I am a horrible, evil person.” But, can a just Judge pardon such evil? Herein lies the power of the gospel we preach. God can save and forgive the worst of sinners because He can. He is God and He alone possesses the sovereignty to forgive to the uttermost depths of depravity. He does whatever He pleases according to His own counsel, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him (Malachi 3:17). Does that mean evil deeds go unpunished? No. For the wages of sin, whether small or great, is death according to God's law (Romans 6:23). God is holy and in Him is no darkness at all. But, not willing that any should perish, He gave His only begotten Son to take our place to suffer both the punishment and penalty for our sins. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. Therefore, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:9-10). And so, like the thief on the cross, if indeed she did admit her guilt, there is pardon for her in Christ and the hope of heaven, if, she believes in Jesus. This is the love and mercy of God we preach. As for the precious little ones, be rest assured that they are in heaven. For sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 5:13). To the people and nations that condone, perpetuate, and promote the atrocious murder of these little ones, know this, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He will surely recompense: "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:2).

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