So a week ago I had seven biopsies of potential skin cancers and yesterday the doctor’s office called about the results. The news was not good. Several turned out to be cancerous, including squamous and basil cell, which are not particularly dangerous if caught early, but one in particular was deeply troubling. It was a melanoma.
So tomorrow they have scheduled surgery to remove it. The hope is that it is in an early stage and has not spread to other parts of my body. If so, the surgery should remove it and I have a fairly good chance of beating it.
If it has become invasive, then that could spell serious trouble for me. A diagnosis of melanoma used to mean that someone with treatment had an average of just five years to live. Today modern treatments have increased that length of time dependent upon a wide variety of factors.
I briefly read about it this morning on the Internet and then gave it up. Reading about it can be depressing and I could not think of anything positive that might come out of it and therefore just decided that I would do something more encouraging.
I have faced death numerous times in my life. If I were a cat and limited to just to the nine lives that they are fabled to possess, my remains would be in a grave somewhere and I would already be in heaven. God has seen me through these encounters and kept me alive right up through today and it has amounted to a rich full life that went far beyond my wildest expectation.
I do not fear death; however, I do not welcome it as my plans are to continue working for the Jesus Alliance and seeing it distribute the good news of Jesus Christ to all four corners of the earth, and I do want to watch my kids and grandkids develop full lives of their own; however, if the Lord calls me home I will enter into the place He has prepared for me, knowing that similar to the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful”.
So many people in this situation get angry with God. Quite frankly I do not understand that logic. True believers have received the free gift of God which is eternal life with Him in paradise. We are not “owed” anything by God, much less a reward based upon our own merit, because we do not deserve anything from God. I am thankful for the free gift of forgiveness that He has so graciously provided to this sinner, and I will earnestly strive to boldly confess Christ at every opportunity, and show love to Him in all things until that day I draw my last breath.
If you are so inclined I would appreciate all prayers that I might continue the good fight. If not, then don’t bother. I strongly believe in prayer, and one cannot give or receive enough of it.
We all differ in many ways, but one thing that we all share is an appointment with death. The good news for the true believer is that the story does not end there. Thanks be to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we will live with Him for eternity.
When you read Psalm 23 death is described as a shadow. I don’t know about you but I do not fear a harmless shadow. It flees from light just as Satan flees from the light of Christ. I follow the light of Jesus and am bathed in His glory and presence and any shadows are behind me fleeing from me. Satan is the author of death and flees from His presence like a frightened rabbit.
Psalm 23
The LORD is the one who is shepherding me;
I lack nothing.
He causes me to lie down in pastures of green grass;
he guides me beside quiet waters.
He revives my life;
he leads me in pathways that are righteous
for the sake of his name.
Even when I walk through a
valley of the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid
because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me,
even in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Truly, goodness and gracious love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will remain in the LORD’s Temple forever.
August 10 2016 – Click here to listen