April 9, 2020 – Click here to listen
The results of my MRI were excellent. I dodged yet another bullet and am good to go. The 7mm spot they found on my liver with a CAT scan turned out to be a blood vessel and is nothing abnormal. The more detailed MRI showed that blood was filling it which could not be seen on the CAT scan. So I passed another test.
By that I mean I kept my faith through the entire three weeks that this saga transpired. Many around me were worried sick about it, but I never once worried not even an iota. I prayed that if God wanted to use me on this planet for a while longer to please do so, but nonetheless His will be done and not mine.
Perhaps the thing that reinforced my faith the most was remembering that I am a child of God. As I look at my own children, I would do anything for them to make them happy and protect them (and believe me that includes dying for them.) I love my children with a love that cannot be defined. This test made me think of God and His love for his children and it so far surpasses my love for my children that there is no comparison. I reasoned that fatherhood to Him is sacred and He has guaranteed us through His word that He will never abandon us, and He will not allow Satan and/or His entire demonic domain to ever take me from Him. Our Father only wants what is best for His beloved children.
This is not to say that life will be a bed of roses. When my children disobeyed or did something wrong, I taught them a lesson they would not soon forget. Punishment aside I also taught them how to have good character, perseverance, and I taught them about God and faith. These lessons were sometimes painful, but they learned from them and to a son they all turned out to be tremendous human beings full of love.
When I undergo harsh trials and tribulations, I have faith that God will protect me. I keep at the uppermost part of my mind that I am a child of God and how much He loves me. If I must suffer, I know He has my best interests at heart, and all is well with my soul and I try to patiently work my way through it until the sun breaks through. Faith is a wonderful thing. Even if this latest test had proven to be the cancerous tumor the doctor suspected I would have accepted it and eagerly looked forward to seeing the Lord sooner rather than later. I believe the Bible when it states to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
There is an old adage “Red sky in morning, sailor warning. Red sky at night sailor’s delight.” It was derived from a red sky in the morning usually meaning that a high-pressure system and its good weather has already passed, and a low-pressure system is likely moving in from the east. The converse, a red sky at night, means that a high-pressure system is bringing stable air and good weather will follow.
Jesus used this illustration to show how illogical it is to accept nature and yet question God (and His motives, plans, and the purpose for our lives.) He said beginning in Matthew 16:1 – “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red;’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times! You find it easy enough to forecast the weather – why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.”
The Jonah sign is Jesus dying on the cross and being resurrected three days later just as Jonah stayed in the belly of a giant fish three days and three nights. The Jonah sign is enough for me. I not only believe in Jesus being the living Son of God, I trust Him with everything including my life and don’t so much as blink when I face death and trust me, I have faced it many times.
The Bible states that our faith is our hope and assurance that things we cannot see will ultimately work things out for the good. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Do you need more faith in these times of trouble? Perhaps it is time to get out your Bible and start or resume your journey to faith.
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.