Our Victory

My friend is battling liver cancer.   For over a year he has taken chemotherapy treatments that are as bad as the disease.  He takes a series of treatments and periodically has tests to see how the cancer is responding to the treatments.  For over a year the results have been the same, no better and no worse.  This routine has been brutal physically and mentally.  Knowing he had a test coming up I called to check on him.   He shared with me that one way or another something was going to change this time.  And then he broadsided me.  He said he didn’t want to dampen our conversation but asked if I would honor him by attending his funeral.   For a moment I was speechless, caught off guard by this incredible request.   I finally responded “is that where you think this is going?”.  My friend without pause shared either way the test results came out he was content.  He was not afraid of dying and what mattered in life was crystal clear to him.

How many of us can say we are content and not afraid to die?  My friend has discovered some deep truths that I am in awe of.  This physical body we have and this physical world we live in are not where it’s at.  God provided perfection in the beginning yet we corrupted His perfection by our own choosing.  This world was originally intended by God to be our place of contentment and peace.  Death was not in the picture.  We ruined what He intended and death became our enemy with the bite of the apple.  We have been blinded ever since seeking what is no longer available in this body, this place, this life, and this ruined existence.  The resulting conflict is to fear a reality of life- that is death.   Despite our rebellion God has made a way to return to what He originally intended.  Through Christ an incredible, unbelievable reality for those who will accept it is offered free to us all.  Drink this in and accept this gift from our Father and Savior:

But Christ has truly been raised from the dead—the first one and proof that those who sleep in death will also be raised.21 Death has come because of what one man did, but the rising from death also comes because of one man.22 In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again.23 But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life,24 and then the end will come. At that time Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers, and he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father.25 Christ must rule until he puts all enemies under his control.²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.(I Corinthians 15:20-26)

I was humbled and honored to have the conversation I did with my friend as he faces the reality of death.  Emboldened by scripture I came away with this very bold thought.  Until we no longer fear death we will not understand true life in God’s kingdom. 

Father, on this Easter Sunday may we understand that the resurrection of Jesus reconciles the seemingly irreconcilable fact that to live we must die.  Help us to embrace this victory over our greatest enemy.

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Texas 

Turning the Page....With Hope

My family had the dubious privilege of knowing going into 2011 that it would hold some challenges for us. We started the year with me living in a house that we were trying to sell while my husband worked during the week 200 miles away, joining us on weekends (for the record -- not much happens in the housing market in the winter). We were grateful for the job, as 2010 had blindsided us with unemployment and uncertainty.

There was the selling of the house, the buying of a house -- and if you’ve transacted real estate lately, you know that is not a stress-free endeavor -- relocating all of our belongings, and getting our teen children moved and enrolled in new schools. Besides the general emotional upheaval such a move takes, there has been financial drama as the economy continues the Tilt-A-Whirl ride. To sum it up, 2011 has left our family a little worse for the wear.

As 2012 launches, I am eager to turn the page. A fresh start is waiting. I frequently turn to Jeremiah 29:11 to be reminded that God holds my future, but I just realized that it says He wants to give me hope, too: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (emphasis mine)

God understands how powerful hope is. Sometimes it’s all this world has to offer us -- hope of a better world later.

I can’t know what 2012 will bring. But I know Who will be walking beside me. May I be fully surrendered to His will that I may bring glory out of each circumstance -- whether it look like opportunity or obstacle.

“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Psalm 71:14

I pray that your 2012 is a rich time of growing deeper in our Lord, filled with hope, and joy and peace:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Sarah Stirman

McKinney, Texas