Cancer Free?

According to the Bible, Adam & Eve (before the fall) and the Incarnate Jesus were the only persons who we could honestly say were cancer-free. Of course Jesus had a perfect body and never experienced any disease.  Right after sin came in the first couple lived to be hundreds of years old before they began realizing the effects of sin on their bodies.  Scientists have found evidence of cancer in the fossil record so it’s been around for a long time. It’s common knowledge that all people have cancer cells in their bodies. Our immune system “finds them and destroys them before they get a chance to multiply and cause problems.” (Wiki.answers.com) Clearly immune systems get weakened from environmental causes, as a result of unhealthy choices, and through the aging process, but what might not be so obvious is a simple truth I’ve learned about this whole notion of being cancer-free.

Early on I aimed my sights at getting rid of all traces of cancer, hoping for it never to return again.  I had my heart set on it. Rightly so every step made toward seeing the Lord accomplish that mission was met with great rejoicing. But what now – what should my outlook be since learning two nodes recently found on PET scan are cancerous? How we respond to dilemmas popping up along the way is always a choice. Praise God, He has given me some insight on how to see this new development. Cancer can put a stranglehold on hope, but I can be free from worrying about the future because Jesus is already there. God’s Word teaches “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)  

The earthly heart might solely be concerned with cancer or any other disability for that matter. However, with belief in Jesus Christ comes absolute certainty that He is with us throughout our sojourn here, giving us hope we can put worries to rest. Setting our minds “on things above” means receiving and embracing His peace, patience, goodness – those godly attributes that flow from God’s throne. In spite of his earthly trials, the Christian has eternal joy set before him just as Jesus did when He bore the cross of shame on our behalf. (Hebrews 12:2) We do not have hope in this world, rather we desire the “better country” Abraham sought as described in Hebrews 11. There will come a day that I will be able to truly say I’m free from all diseases.

Freedom from the presence of cancer will be a tangible and eternal reality when God creates the new heavens and new earth. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4) We will then be absolutely free from all the affects of sin, guaranteed. There’s s song playing on the radio by Building 429 these days that rings in my head: “All I know is I’m not home yet. This is not where I belong. Take this world but give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.” Hallelujah!!

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/To receive automatic email updates of new posts, send an email request to: comfortinchrist@googlegroups.com 

Servant Leadership

Jesus said…“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  Jesus said…”I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) No doubt about it; knowledge sure is essential in navigating life and living out one’s vocation. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a more excellent understanding of subjects of interest that will enhance our overall human experience through invention, design and science, as long as these intellectual leaps don’t rub God’s moral compass the wrong way. By all means, go ahead and get more education that will help you do your job better, with more zeal and expertise. Be careful though not to make knowledge an idol, usurping the Lord’s place as the giver of any fact which may be revealed to you. Before Jesus comes again to execute justice on the earth, we must come to the realization that Jesus is God, and only He can save us. (Matthew 12:36) As a Christian I’m assured that my life is hid with God in Christ, so there’s great comfort in not needing to “know it all.” One thing I have learned is that there is freedom in serving, faithfully serving our Lord and faithfully serving others. And what better place to practice serving than at work?

Throughout my years, I’ve had a few servant leaders who were fair and giving in their management style. I can’t help but reflect on that now. One used to say, “My job is to get you what you need so you can do your job.” That kind of wisdom can’t be taught or bought. It is more than practical – it is wisdom from above. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) Jesus, the Son of God is the epitome of servant leadership. So many examples from the Gospels portray the Savior serving the Father by providing for others; first giving them God’s eternal truth, then providing physically, from feeding of the 5000 to healing the man born blind. With regard to Heavenly wisdom, Christ had it in abundance as the Incarnate Deity. With regards to working with men, He knows what to do perfectly.  After all, He knows all men. “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”  (Psalm 139)

From the human perspective, it isn’t that easy getting other people what they really need, putting them ahead of myself. There is a danger in falling back on past experiences, relying on our own ideas. Many people in Scripture learned the futility of trusting in wits and intellect to get them through life. Haman was alive during the time of (Queen Esther) and he was a schemer. He trusted his understanding of politics, his relationship with the King and would stop at nothing to ensure that all bowed down to him. One Jew refused to do so and he schemed to have all the Jews destroyed. Esther herself intervened to stop Haman’s plot by putting her life on the line in approaching the King to petition him to stop Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews. (Esther 7) It’s not always easy to know what to do, but one thing is for sure, we always need to seek the Lord before we move forward.

I praise God, He allows every trial like cancer and every challenge like learning how to effectively lead to not only help others, but draw each of us closer to Himself. Servant leadership lays it all down for others. Pride can’t live in a temple totally given over to the Lord.  Whatever our position in this life, the Lord desires complete submission from all of us. Let’s allow Him to do this magnificent work in us and through us for His glory and our own good. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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Potent Weaponry

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that two lymph nodes in my chest are cancerous. The good news is they can be treated with radiation treatments – at least that’s the rumor. One of the nodes is close to my heart; we pray not on the heart because that would be a tricky surgical procedure and I’m not craving more surgery. Make no mistake: I don’t want this blog to ever be a platform to complain about my situation! I recently found a blog for Fox News.com by a woman going through cancer and it’s a depressing read. Complaining does no earthly good. My latest condition however has given me pause for thought on how pervasive cancer can be if left untreated. It invades healthy tissue silently with stealth and grows under the surface until it manifests into a tumor which lights up like neon on diagnostic scans. After all the treatment I’ve had, one would think, ‘it’s all gone – how could there still be cancer hanging around.’ I’ve learned it doesn’t stay put, but breaks off microscopically and travels to find other healthy tissue to destroy. A cancer tumor or node must be the size of a pea to be detected on scans, which means it’s had time to grow large enough to be treatable – doctors don’t concern themselves with tiny irregularities; only bright lights. Clearly a weapon stronger than the cancer is required to vanquish the advancing enemy.

To get my mind off this recent development I think Jesus got me thinking on how much the nature of cancer reminds me of sin. The epistle of James teaches: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16) The effects of sin may not be seen initially since most us of do our best to secret away carnal lusts or dishonest gain. Cancer works that way, hiding out – trying to go undetected and left unchecked it grows, travelling to other vital organs. Sin similarly takes over every part of our lives, affecting those we love, as well as those that shoulder the trial alongside us.  

The agent prescribed to kill the cancer must be stronger than the disease, but with that power comes side effects that can be painful. Hair loss, painful joints, sleeplessness are common. The body, once familiar and whole is impaired and altered by surgery and chemo treatments. Getting rid of sin in our lives can be painful as well. We’re used to behaving in certain ways, using unseemly language, going places that are unhealthy, but consider sin is not a loving master. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16) Just like untreated cancer, sin always leads to death and the worst death is eternal separation from God.

The best weapon to kill sin is not man-made; rather it is the power of the God of the Universe, Jesus Christ. When He ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit came to convince any willing heart that Jesus is the cure for sin. A scripture has often come to mind through this battle against cancer. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) The human suit of armor begins to fall off. Layers of selfishness and arrogance are replaced with the armor of God: “the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6) Let us remember no matter the type of trials we may encounter in this temporal life, Jesus extends this invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:20,21)

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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Not Abandoned, Always Abounding

Three ladies were in the right place a year and a half ago when I found out I had cancer. It’s one of the many details the Lord had orchestrated to show His care for me. These ladies are public servants ministering to God’s people as they enter our church each week. Moreover “my ladies” have all been through cancer at least once, yet continue to abound in the work of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Remarkably, I met them just weeks before my diagnosis through the decision to serve in that same greeting ministry. When I shared the diagnosis, they embraced me, prayed with me and one even told me she wished she could take it from me and bear it herself. Amazing! (Who willingly wants to sacrifice himself for another? This is the heart of true love; this is the heart of God, demonstrated perfectly in Jesus!) The fruit of the Holy Spirit is definitely fully ripe on the trees of these three ladies. Two of them sat with me and drove me home from a few chemo treatments. All of them tell me they never stop praying for me.

Today, I discovered cancer had recently returned in force to one of my ladies, residing in two places. Even though she has to start chemo again, her spirit remains upbeat and focused on Christ. As I heard the news, a couple thoughts ran through my mind. First, cancer is a nasty beast that wishes to devour and consume the host it inhabits much like sin desires to destroy our souls. Secondly, just like cancer requires a stronger adversary to kill it, likewise sin can only be overcome when an individual yields to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is our Helper and Comforter, but He also said the Spirit will convict us of sin, righteousness and judgment. (John 16) We all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10) and if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. The Lord God does not wish any to perish in their sinful state and invites each person ever born, before they die to accept His free and full grace. Sadly, many do not. Rejecting the Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin. It makes sense. Why would God forgive anyone who chooses to reject His love and forgiveness, essentially spitting in His face until their dying day? The good news, no great news is “my lady” who again faces a somewhat familiar physical foe, wholeheartedly believes Jesus died for her and this gives her everlasting peace.

Another much asked question perhaps by some reading this is why should someone so good suffer so much? The very real answer is that we live in a broken world that has been marred because of man’s disobedience. We can’t blame Adam and Eve. We are born rebellious and self –centered. We see the results of such behaviors all around us with greed, wars and deceitful practices on the rise. Yet God did not abandon us. Jesus said “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) He can only make His home in those who want Him to live there.

Our Lord told us we would have trouble in this world but fear not; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) By the revelation of the Holy Spirit my three ladies and I know for certain that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and if we believe in Him we will never die. (John 11:25) If we have hope in this life only we would be miserable. The human body is matter in a contained state and over time it becomes more wild and less stable. Just look in the mirror and you see the effects of that fact. The Christian has hope of eternity with Jesus and Heaven where there is more crying, pain or death. (Revelation 21)     

My three ladies are one of the reasons I wanted to start a support group within a short time after I learned I had cancer. Hearts knit together in the love of Jesus Christ, bearing one another’s burdens is a treasure in clay jars, in earthen vessels such as we are. Nothing on earth can measure up to the work of God in and through the human spirit. Amazing love! Amazing God!

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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