April 3, 2020 – Click here to listen
Yesterday I received a large number of e-mails from those who are praying for my upcoming MRI test and that the result would be good. Thank you from the depths of my heart for your support and I want you to know that I can feel those prayers and I’m appreciative. One reader wrote: I have no fear of dying. I know where I’m going. I do have a fear of suffering just before that whether from Cancer, Coronavirus, or something else. How do we believers handle that?
The Bible tells us not to fear, but to put our trust in God. He will be with us every step we take, and it is imperative that we focus on Him. Sometimes it seems impossible to obey the commands God gives us in His Word. However, as God enables you to understand the good that can come through suffering, you’ll realize that it is possible to obey those “impossible” commands, because you’ll see life from a new perspective.
One of the counterintuitive truths about suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. Paul who was persecuted beyond the scope of imagination often wrote about trials and in 1 Corinthians 4:8 he wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”
This acknowledges that we will experience trials and tribulations in this world, but Christians will get through it through the help of Jesus. Paul gives a stark reminder that we have not reached the heaven of no tears and no pain, of no mourning and no death yet. But Paul goes on to encourage us in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” If we truly believe the Bible and Paul’s mighty words, we will not fear the suffering from our “momentary afflictions.” Thus it becomes imperative to rely completely on God and the Bible as we experience them. Without this faith it would be impossible to bear it.
I have a high tolerance for pain. The doctor who performed surgery on my neck and fused five discs together complete with metal plates and screws was amazed that I didn’t seek treatment earlier. He shook his head and said the pain should have been unbearable, but the morning prior to going to see him I was riding horses and quail hunting climbing off and on my horse all morning long. I felt the pain but thought I had a pulled muscle or something and was determined just to muscle through it. As it turned out the next morning I was in excruciating pain and could barely walk. I had three ruptured discs and two bulging. Duh!
My wife on the other hand can get a little nick on her hand such as a paper cut, and she will shed real tears. She knows in her heart that she will be with the Lord at the moment of her death, but she is so averse to pain that she is nearly irrational about it. And yet pain she endured. It nearly broke my heart when she got breast cancer and endured surgery, aggressive chemo treatments, and radiation. I wept with her when her hair began falling out and I agonized as I saw her balled up in the fetal position being wracked by pain from the chemo treatments and later by the burning of her skin by radiation. I was amazed how bravely she endured it all, especially those terrible chemo treatments and the side effects that she is still undergoing from ongoing chemo (which was a five long year process with two more years to go.)
Her strong faith in God and her determination to live ultimately got her through it in fine fashion. Her most enduring gift of the Spirit is love and motherhood and she loves her children and grandchildren with all of her heart and desired to be with them longer. She received support and prayers from Christian well-wishers literally from all over the world. The church supports those who suffer, and their support is invaluable. She is doing great today with cancer in full remission. Her experience has strengthened her faith and given her the understanding that she can do far more than what she previously thought possible. Do not dread the unknown. I’ve experienced many tribulations and after they pass, I’m always stronger for it and you will as well.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Have a great weekend even though cooped up and watch church online this special Sunday and pray for our country.