Wanderman in the Wilderness

God's word applied in the world.

The Designer Baby

genomeIt’s called “Genome Editing with CRISPR-Cas9,” and it may be a game changer in genetic engineering. Although genetic engineering is nothing new, the Washington Times recently reported that CRISPR is an amazingly “fast, flexible, cheap way to manipulate the code of life.”

CRISPR is so “revolutionary – and unnerving – that hundreds of scientists, policymakers and the president’s science adviser” gathered this week to discuss the implications and ethics of using it on human genes. Before long, this technology could be used to rid genes of hereditary diseases. But, it might also be used for cosmetic reasons…and that’s an ethical dilemma.

They are calling them “Designer Babies.” Would you be ok with picking the eye color of your baby? Height? Would you make your baby stronger? Faster? What if you could plan a future for your child? What would you envision?

I imagine that most of us have ethical concerns about these questions. Yet, if we had the opportunity, wouldn’t we make our child faster, stronger, and give them every advantage in life? That’s why it is so amazing to me that, despite having the means and opportunity, God did the exact opposite.

The greatest designer baby ever was God’s Son in the flesh, Jesus. He was a part of the Godhead (John 1:1-2); He was the vehicle of creation (John 1:3); and, He was born into the flesh through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). His coming had been announced since the earliest days of creation (Genesis 3:15).

Yet this baby was born of humble means (Luke 2:7). He was physically human (Hebrews 2:14; 1 Timothy 2:5). And He did not have many advantages in life (Matthew 8:20, 19:21).

Despite being God in the flesh, Jesus faced terrible hardships as a man. He experienced hunger, thirst, and pain. He bled and He died. His precious blood was shed in fulfillment of a plan that was laid before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20).

Yet, God had something greater in store. Jesus arose on the 3rd day, coming back to life as an example to all those who would believe in Him for eternal life. And God has something greater in store for you too!

Your soul is genetically engineered for eternal life…the only question is where you will spend eternity. Live faithfully in Christ today and have a home with God forever.

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