We received the sad news this week that our son Josh and his wife Manami, who live in Japan, have lost their baby, Edwin Arthur Powell, who would have been born in the next few days. He was pronounced dead in the womb, because the cord had become kinked and he had no oxygen or nourishment. It is devastating to all our family. It is the first death in our immediate family--all our other 17 grandchildren were born healthy and strong.

It is a great comfort at this time to know that babies are in the hands of the Lord. I do not think that anything happens by chance, especially the death of these little ones, and I am certain that the death of a baby is a certain mark of the election of God and that all of these little ones are secure in the presence of God forever, especially those born of the covenant community, but I am persuaded also that all babies are.

Josh was baptized as a baby and committed to Christ at that time. We do pray daily that Josh will confess his faith in Christ--he is a wonderful and loving son--he only lacks the gift of faith that comes from Christ alone. But just as Levi was in the loins of Abraham when he paid tithes to Melchizadec, so was Edwin in the loins of Joshua when he was baptized. If Abraham's faith was sufficient to include his seed within the covenant of Israel, then it is also true of the covenant of Christ. Only ultimate unbelief is a sign of reprobation and babies cannot produce that sign. This grandfather could not be persuaded that Edwin is not with the Lord.

"Suffer the little ones to come unto me," are the words of our Lord Jesus. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." (Mt 18:10-11 av)