by Darryl Johnson
West Assembly of God Church
I have a close friend and colleague who in his late 40’s has been diagnosed with an advanced cancer. Unless God performs a miracle he is not long for this world. He told me, “you know Darryl, knowing that I may only have a short time left puts everything in perspective. So many things we stress and fight about are so trivial and unimportant.” How true. At times like this eternity looms large and earthly things seem so insignificant.
Death is a subject we avoid as much as possible. It is described in 1 Corinthians as “the last enemy.” Life is good here in America, with endless opportunities, but we must not allow the humanistic American lifestyle to drown out our relationship with God and where we will spend eternity. Hebrews 9 says “it is appointed unto man to die once and after this comes the judgment.” This is every man and woman’s rendezvous. Herein lies the wonderful love of God. The Christian faith gives us victory over death. Jesus said, “because I live, you too shall live.” The person who trusts in Jesus, confesses his sin and lives for the Lord shall “not perish but have everlasting life.”
For my pastor friend, he has the luxury of meditation and careful consideration as he faces a potential life ending illness. He will have victory regardless what happens. For others, that luxury may be unavailable. An accident can prevent a careful thought process. A hardened heart may hinder us. Let us stop and think today. Tomorrow may never come.
I believe God can heal my friend. The miracle worker, Jesus Christ, God’s Son is the same yesterday, today and forever. I am praying for healing. I also know there is an appointment to keep, and unless Jesus comes back soon, we will all keep that appointment with death without being late. Let’s have the faith the Apostle Paul had when he expressed, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ…Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1)
My friend will be OK, but what about you? Where will you spend eternity, and what will you do with Jesus?
