On 26th March 2021, the law in Scotland around organ donation changed to one of opting out, in the hope that ultimately many lives will be saved and improved by encouraging more donations.It is a general principle of Christianity that people should be willing to give for the benefit of others; therefore, most Christians will no doubt be in favour of this change in the law.
However, it is often forgotten that in most cases for someone to be the recipient of an organ transplant, sadly a person has died to make it happen. Whilst many will be rejoicing in a life of a loved one being saved or at least transformed by the successful transplantation, at the very same time others will be devastated and grieving the loss of a loved one who has died most often suddenly.
The message of the Bible has some similarities: it was necessary that the Lord Jesus came from heaven to earth and became human so that men and women could be saved and receive the gift of God which is eternal life. The Bible says: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Potentially eight lives can be saved or improved when one person dies and donates their organs. The impact for good is so great that the government would like us to make our decision known regarding whether we want to be a donor after our life comes to an end. Yet, the benefit to humanity from the death of Jesus Christ is immeasurably greater still. It is amazing to consider that His sacrifice has limitless potential: all can be saved and enjoy everlasting life through believing in Him.
Healthcare workers must ensure that before an organ is transplanted into a person that its function is not affected significantly by disease from a chronic health problem that the donor had before they died. Otherwise, there would a considerable risk to the individual who received the transplanted organ: they may become ill and the outcome of the operation be a failure.
Uniquely the Christian message states that Jesus Christ being God, is the only person ever who has not been affected by a condition that has afflicted every other human in history- sin. This is the reason only Jesus Christ can be, and indeed is, the “Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14) as well as being why those who trust in Him are convinced that His death can bring life to others.
It is a wonderful experience for anyone to know that because of faith in Jesus Christ the statement of the Bible is true for them personally that “the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
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