I know a woman who had an abortion many years ago. After the procedure, she saw her doctor again for a follow-up appointment. When he left her in the room to get dressed, he also left behind her folder containing all personal information. This woman opened the folder and snatched all the abortion documentation. Later, she shredded the information--also hoping to shred the memory of that terrible and fateful decision. But the memory remains and the wonder of what and who that child might have become.

Such could be the story of more than 45 million women since 1973. Tuesday, January 22, 2008, commemorated the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. On January 22, 1973, the nine Supreme Court justices voted seven to two that a law in Texas banning abortion except to save a woman's life was unconstitutional under the right to personal privacy. The case had been brought before a court in Dallas, Texas, three years before by two women lawyers seeking the right for homeless, 22-year-old single mother Norma McCorvey (pseudonym Jane Roe) to terminate her third pregnancy. She became the plaintiff, and the defendant was Henry Wade, the district attorney. Following a lengthy appeals process, the case ended up before the Supreme Court in late 1972. By the time their decision was handed down, McCorvey had already given birth to her third child, which she placed up for adoption. The court's ruling gave U.S. women absolute right to terminate a pregnancy during the first three months and a qualified right thereafter up to six months.

Today, we often hear different Christian spokepeople talking about the possibility of still overturning Roe v. Wade. Statistics say that public opinion regarding the future of abortion roughly lines up like this: 25 percent for totally banning abortion, 50 percent for making it legal but restricted, and 25 percent for making it available on demand. To overturn Roe v. Wade would require only five of the nine Supreme Court judges to rule in favor of changing the decision. If that happened, abortion laws would revert back to the 50 states where ordinary citizens have more say. Last year, we saw the U.S. Supreme Court take the first step in rolling back abortion rights in more than a generation by banning a controversial late-term termination procedure, where a baby's head is punctured during delivery.

The Bible affirms that children in the womb have a spiritual identity: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb" (Ps. 139:13). The Prophet Jeremiah and the apostle Paul were called by God before they were born (Jer. 1:5; Gal 1:15). John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb when the voice of Mary, the mother of the Lord, was heard (Lu. 1:44).

With God's position in mind, as well as millions of murdered babies and mothers to live with the guilt and consequences, what can we do as the persuaded to make a difference concerning abortion? I believe our responsibilities lie in two areas:

First, we can impact at the national level. We need to be part of anything we can find to overturn Roe v. Wade. Perhaps the greatest results of the 2008 presidential election will be the Supreme Court vacancies our next president will fill as existing justices retire. Liberal presidents will appoint liberal justices, and conservative presidents will appoint conservative ones. A couple of new appointments either way could sway this decision for generations to come. That could be the single most important reason for you to choose your candidate this year and do whatever you can to get him elected.

Second, we can impact at the personal level. We need to keep our eyes open for individual pregnant women who will not become another abortion statistic. To save one child may not make The New York Times headlines, but it will be noted in God's eyes. Volunteer with your local chapter of The National Right to Life. Focus on the Family does a lot with protecting the unborn. Ramah International is an organization which offers hope and healing to those who suffer from Post-Abortion Syndrome (and yes, this has been labeled a real condition). Or you can be on the lookout for at least one pregnant girl who you can help make the right decision concerning her pregnancy.

Abortion may not have touched you personally, but be sure, it has impacted us all. And the call to each of us is to make a difference in this area. On this anniversary of Satan's victory, make it one for God. Make a recommitment to do what you can to save lives of babies. Make a recommitment to the sanctity of human life. Stand up for life.