Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources
Question: What has become of the souls of the millions of babies that have died through miscarriage and abortion?
Answer: The fact of an unborn child’s soul is always in question. The reason for that is because God defines the criteria for salvation to be faith in His Son as the Savior. All Scriptural references relating to this matter speak about born children and adults. The Bible, however, is silent on the fact of an unborn child’s soul.
To fill this void some denominations talk of a pleasant type of limbo for the souls of miscarried and aborted children. It is not heaven, hell, or purgatory but literally a pleasant “limbo.”
Other church bodies and well-meaning Christians have counseled the distressed mother who miscarried or aborted her child to now imagine seeing her child in the arms of Jesus. It is certainly a desirable thought although a search of Scripture does not back that notion as absolute fact.
Still, others say that aborted children are in hell. Again, a study of Scripture does not back that statement up as undisputed fact.
The bottom line is this: Scripture is silent on the fact of an aborted or miscarried child. We do not know for certain that they are in heaven or in hell. Nor do we know for certain that they are not in heaven or in hell. Where then is the comfort? The comfort is letting God be God.
God reminds us to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He also promises to work all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Even sinful acts are used by God to accomplish His will. God is perfect and has done what is perfectly right for an unborn child lost through miscarriage or abortion. The compassionate side of me wants to consider the baby in heaven. My heart of faith, however, tells me that in the absence of clear testimony, the one thing I can be sure of is that God makes no mistakes and He has done what is perfectly right for that baby.
For those who have had an abortion or caused a miscarriage by something they did, they can move forward in life with the assurance that through faith they have God’s forgiveness through Christ. This knowledge, however, still finds some struggling to shed the feelings of guilt and shame over the loss of their child’s life. We attempt to alleviate our shame and guilt by grasping for any indication that the damages from our sins are minimal. It is natural for everyone to do that. I counsel you, however, to seek closure on this matter — but not from the emotional comfort or pain of knowing or imagining the fate of your unborn child. Rather, lean on what you know is certain. God forgives, and He works things out perfectly. Trust in God’s forgiveness, learn from the mistakes of the past, and proceed confidently in life that all is well because God is in charge.
