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Yesterday I called an old buddy of mine, and his son answered the phone. "May I speak with your Dad, please," I asked. "Hes resting," came the reply. Jestingly I said, "Good grief! Hes acting like an ole man. Let me talk to him!" Will came on the line and I soon learned that he has pancreatic cancer. (Ive since been informed that he probably has only a few months to live.) "Hows Mary," I quarried? "Fine. Well, shesstruggling." Groping for words, I said, "Will, Im here when you need me."
Will is about 50 years young and has always been alive with life! Fun-loving. Dynamic family. And has profoundly touched scores of people for Christ. And now, cancer. And a few months.
As I write, Im at the beach very early on a Saturday morning. Surfers are just starting to negotiate the waves. A guy with rolled up trousers digs for bait for his fishing line. The seagulls strut their stuff in front of me. And the incessant waves expend their restless energy as they roll and crash. I love coming here because the place pulsates with life and beauty. Here, the thought of death is light years away. But Will gnaws at my gut. A few months
As Mary and Will now face the grueling specter of waning energy and death, is it sure defeat? Is it the end? Sure seems like it to me. Yet, not according to St. Paul: "This perishable nature of ours must be wrapped in imperishability, these bodies which are mortal must be wrapped in immortality. So when the perishable is lost in the imperishable, the mortal lost in the immortal, this saying will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. For where now, O death, is your power to hurt us? Where now, O grave, is the victory you hoped to win?All thanks to God, then, who gives us the victory over these things through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Cor. 15:54-57 selected Phillips Translation)
Contrary to popular perception, we, and Christs redeemed ones, are not in the land of the living, going to the land of the dead. Rather, we are in the land of the dying, going to the land of the living.
Breathing in the cool ocean breeze, I sought to process the reality and the implication of Wills illness. Finally I opened my Bible and meditated through a portion of Psalm 18. From this passage it becomes apparent that whatever our lifes battles may be, God promises to furnish us with:
Courage
to move ahead against the enemy: "With your help I can advance against a troop." (vs. 29)
Protection
as God becomes our shield and our refuge: "You give me your shield of victory." (vss. 30,35)
Strength
as He fortifies us with His power: "You armed me with strength for battle." (vss.32,34,39)
Agility
like that of a deer on the mountain: "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer." (vs. 33)
Preparation
for the battle: "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze." (vs. 34)
Sustenance
as we draw from Him: "Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." (vs. 35)
Victory
as "Godsaves me from my enemies." (vss. 37, 45,47,48)
My friend, I have no idea what you may be facing. But God does. Consider Psalm 18:28, "You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Put your hand in His. Relax in His promises and sufficiency and let Him walk you through the darkness into light. Today. Right now. In Jesus Name, amen.