Matters of Life and Death

Last night I shared at our campus meeting about my journey with cancer. As I reflect on my story with cancer, I am reminded of another story. And this story is about you. It is one that is not merely physical as mine was, but it is one that is spiritual and has eternal impact. So where are you in this story?

Are you… Clueless?
There was a period of time when I had no idea that I had cancer. Though outwardly I seemed strong and healthy, inwardly a disease had begun to multiply and destroy. It was aggressive and had the power to kill me. In the same way, we can be clueless that there is something way more powerful, aggressive and life-threatening than cancer. And instead of our bodies, it affects our souls. Yet outwardly we seem strong and able, but inwardly we are wasting away.

Jeremiah 17: 9-10 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” The Word also informs us that our deeds are sinful and deserve death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

Our hearts are sick. And by hearts I do not mean an organ, I mean your person: your thoughts, your mind, your will, all of it. And some of you are oblivious that there is something so wrong with your heart.

Are you… Ignoring the Symptoms?
When I first started to notice a bulge in my abdomen, I ignored it. I wrote it off as nothing. I made excuses or blamed it on other things. “I must just be gaining weight…” Some of us are aware that there is a problem in our souls, but we are not yet willing to admit it. We ignore it, write it off, blame other things for the ache in our souls.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21

You have treasured things other than God and as a result you have symptoms of emptiness, lonlieness, guilt, shame, or discontentment to name a few. You find ways to numb or run but they always fade.

Are you… Diagnosing the Problem?
I came to a point when I could no longer ignore my symptoms because they had started to become obvious to me that there was a problem. So I went to an expert to find out what was going on. Along the way, however, I was misdiagnosed and told I had a problem with my bladder. Eventually they discovered the real problem, which was the initial step in being able to successfully treat it. Some of us have come to a point in our lives where we can no longer ignore that there is a problem that runs deep in our souls. But we can be in danger of misdiagnosing our problem, saying, “If only I had ______, then everything would be ok.” What would you fill in there? Money? Success? A Relationship? The Right Appearance? What is it?

Your real problem is that your heart is sick and you are helpless to change that. I could not heal myself of cancer, I had to find the one who was able to heal me. The first step in getting the right treatment is admitting to the real problem.

"And hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" - Mark 2:17

Are you… Ready for Surgery?
Once we found the problem, we realized it could not stay. It had to be removed. Cut out. And that required surgery. In the same way, the Bible says we need our old hearts cut out and new ones put in. We need a transplant. And this requires a willingness to submit to a surgeon. I had to trust my doctor, that he had the ability to remove my mass and would do whatever it took to save my life. In the same way, we need to trust Jesus with our souls.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36: 26

Pain and suffering accompanied the removal of my cancer. There was no other option. However, spiritually we have one who underwent the pain and suffering for us to remove our disease. There was no other option. And we will never have to know what it cost Jesus in order to save our souls.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53: 5

Are you… Aware of the Side Effects?
The second part of my treatment included chemotherapy. And this treatment required me to give up some things. I lost my hair, my energy, my appetite, my ability to taste food, my time, my money, my summer. We would all agree, however, that it would be utterly foolish of my to deny the chemo because I was unwilling to give up my hair. In the same way there are side effects to following Jesus. He will ask you to give up the things your heart formerly treasured. Yet it would be foolish of us to cling to these things and lose our soul. Just as it would have been foolish of my to cling to my appearance when my life was on the line.

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16: 24-15

Are you… In Remission?
Remission means that there is no more visible evidence of cancer in my body. Yet it does not ignore the threat of it’s recurrence. I see the doctor more regularly to ensure and guard my health. And to catch any recurrence that does come before it takes control of my body. This is essential for our spiritual health, too. Those of us who have undergone the radical procedure to save our souls must tend to guarding this new life. We cannot be unaware of the power or former lives can have if we allow it to creep back in.

"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." - Proverbs 4: 20-23

We are waiting for the cure.
They tell me it will be 10 or 15 years of no recurrence before we could consider my body as cured. There is a waiting period. A time where I look forward to this day. We also look forward spiritually to the day when our healing will be complete and final.

"He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "'Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'" - Isaiah 25: 8-9

So I ask you to consider, where are you…? An invitation has been made to you, “Come and be healed.” This is a matter of life and death, so which will you choose?