December 13, 2018 – Click here to listen
My friend TK Wetherell entered hospice this morning and has asked that all further treatment for his cancer be stopped and all wires, tubes, etc. be removed from his body. From this point forward, his only treatment will focus on pain management and being as comfortable as possible until the Lord takes him home.
One verse of Scripture that epitomizes his struggle against this awful disease is 2 Tim. 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. He fought this disease beginning at Johns Hopkins where they told him he had three years at most to live. He went from there to seek treatment at Mayo clinic for several years and then to MD Andersen for more years, and finally Duke Cancer Center. All told he has spent 16 years valiantly fighting this battle. Along the way he has tried every clinical trial, chemo therapy treatment, radiation and immunotherapy treatment known to man.
He has gone into remission only to see it come back with vengeance on many occasions. Through it all he has exhibited an unbelievable good attitude and level of optimism that few could hope to muster. His faith during his trials should be in a textbook instructing us how to weather the sometimes-terrible storms we face in life by maintaining our faith in God.
He is as tough a man as I’ve ever known. His faith in God is remarkable. I spent significant time with him last weekend and prayed with him literally for hours. He told me he has been witnessing to anyone who will listen and then smiled and said he witnessed even to those who won’t listen. He has prayed with his many friends and family members and no doubt will continue as long as he remains conscious and lucid.
TK has been as good a friend as anyone I’ve ever encountered, and we have enjoyed countless times afield hunting and fishing or just going out to eat with him and his wonderful wife Ginger. We have gone on joint vacations with them to places as far away as Hawaii.
Recently a friend told me he got a word from the Lord that TK would be my “greeter” in heaven. That is very comforting to me and it put a big smile on his face. We talked many times about who would arrive in heaven first and we agreed that we would scout it out for each other and already have the good fishing holes identified for each other when we finally reunite.
I believe when we pass through the veil that we will see Jesus first and then the others we have known who have gone on ahead of us will accompany Him. We will be escorted to the mansion that Jesus has especially prepared for us and we will settle in for an eternity of peace, joy, and loving worship.
When the Lord calls TK to be with Him, I’m going to feel sorry for myself. But make no mistake I will be overjoyed for TK. We must remember that God wants to spend time with us too. We also should keep in mind that we were created to live forever – There is no such thing as death.
Like TK we should run the race set out for us with endurance and eyes fixed on Jesus and what He has planned for us throughout eternity. When Jesus faced the cross, He knew full well what being crucified and taking the punishment for the sins of the world entailed, and not just the physical torture He would endure, but His Father turning His back on Him for the first time ever because God could not look upon the sin He became. He dreaded what was before Him so much he sweated blood as He prayed. And yet He willingly endured the cross for the JOY set before Him.
Huh? How could someone be joyful facing all that would happen to Him?
The joy was knowing that the reconcilement between us and Him would be fulfilled and that He would rise again to His throne in heaven where we, His children, would join Him. The Bible states Jesus was a “pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”Friends when a Christian brother or sister ascends to heaven be joyful for them – They are being promoted. I look at saying goodbye to a Christian as they depart this earth like saying bon voyage to someone sailing off on a trip around the world. I will surely miss them, but only for a while and then our reunion will be one of great joy and celebration.
I ask that you take a moment right now and pray for TK and his lovely wife Ginger.
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross”