Fighting for Your Life
I got a call this afternoon from a friend back in Missouri. His wife has been diagnosed with cancer and he asked me if I would call and pray and, of course, I did and I will. So begins yet another family's battle. Tests and biopsies, surgery and recovery, weighing the treatment options and making tough choices. I know that many of you have been or are now fighting those same kinds of battles with illness and disease. My sister was given a t-shirt when she was fighting for her life that said, "Hey, Cancer! This time you messed with the wrong girl!" That's a pretty good way to express the strong, determined attitude we all need to have in those fearful, traumatic times.
As a pastor I know all too well the bottom line truth about these bodies of ours. Sometimes we get well, sometimes we don't. And eventually we all fall victim to our frail mortality. But Paul reminds us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV)
That means that one of these days, like a butterfly emerging from the old cocoon, we will leave these earthbound bodies behind and take flight, take wing. On that first Easter maybe the angel at the tomb should have had a bright t-shirt or maybe some spray paint on that huge stone. "Hey, Death! This time you messed with the wrong Guy!"
If you are fighting for your life today, hang in there. Be strong. Don't give up or give in to your fear. Keep fighting. One of these days, our last enemy is going down for good.
As a pastor I know all too well the bottom line truth about these bodies of ours. Sometimes we get well, sometimes we don't. And eventually we all fall victim to our frail mortality. But Paul reminds us, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV)
That means that one of these days, like a butterfly emerging from the old cocoon, we will leave these earthbound bodies behind and take flight, take wing. On that first Easter maybe the angel at the tomb should have had a bright t-shirt or maybe some spray paint on that huge stone. "Hey, Death! This time you messed with the wrong Guy!"
If you are fighting for your life today, hang in there. Be strong. Don't give up or give in to your fear. Keep fighting. One of these days, our last enemy is going down for good.
Comments