Only God has Absolute Right Over Life

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it" [Psalm 24:1].  Man has been charged only with the stewardship of the earth, of subduing it but not of destroying it [Genesis 1: 27-30].  

Nothing on earth IS without God as their source. Genesis 1:1 simply puts it this way, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The whole chapter 1 of Genesis continues with the Biblical account of the coming of things into being out of nothing through the Word of God [see John 1:3].   

Then God created His masterpiece: human being. He formed him out of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life. From the first moment that God blew into the nostrils of man the breath of life he started to become a living being [see Genesis 2:7]. Job said it in these words, "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind" [12:10]. God made as one of the Ten Commandments the provision about its protection, "You shall not kill" [Exodus 20:13]. 

Life is therefore a gift from God and man's existence is the result of God's overflowing love. This love of God has been made more concrete when He sent His only begotten Son to save mankind from eternal damnation [see John 3:16]. God is so gracious that He not only intended to give us temporary life but eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ [see Romans 6:23] that is why He came into the world that we might have the fullness of that gift of life [see John 10:10]. 

Since life is a gift from God we ought to do everything to nourish and protect it. Though our ultimate end is to be in union with God at the end of time and while life on earth is but temporary, it is by how we lived on earth that we shall gain our heavenly reward. While Christian charity allows us to offer our lives for the sake of God and others, we do not have the power to end it ourselves or to give it up for any other purpose. For even our own bodies are not at our absolute disposal for "it is the temple of the Holy Spirit and whoever destroys this temple him God will destroy in the last day" [see I Corinthians 3:17 and 6:19]. 

It may not be so easy for many to accept that with our capabilities as human beings we are nothing but dust and unto dust we shall return [see Genesis 3;19]. The fight for and recognition of human rights have greatly affected the way humans relate with a God who has "absolute rights" over him. Fact is, even God's existence have been challenged by so many especially with the many advancements in science and technology. And day by day, the Church is witnessing the ever growing antagonism and lack or loss of faith even of Catholics. In times when people would try to advance so many arguments against God and the Church, it is but proper to remember what the Holy Bible says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" [Proverbs 9:10 and 111:10] and that no one should not be wise in one's own estimation [see Proverbs 3:7, also Isaiah 5:21]. Many might not listen to these but remember, Jesus our Lord said that "Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away" [Matthew 24:35]. 

This promise of the Lord would also keep us steadfast in our faith in the Institution which He as left behind: "Not even the gates of hell shall prevail against it" [see Matthew 16: 17-18]. He even left the Holy Spirit to be the advocate of the Church and to teach her everything and to remind her of all that He has taught while on earth [see John 14:26]. Moreover, He never really left us for He is still with us and will surely stay with us "until the end of the world" [Matthew 28:20]. 

For God is God and He is in control for no one but Him alone is the absolute owner of all [Exodus 20: 2-3].