When I had breast cancer, I endured periods of grieving for a life I might not have lived. I had an aggressive cancer that was caught super early and so my prognosis was really very good, but I still had numerous periods of grief. It’s difficult not to think the worst when your body is filled with chemicals and then shot with radiation. I felt like I was dying. Even though I understand that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, it’s difficult to face death with grace, yet I’ve seen believers do just that. Do you think it’s because of the hope they have in Jesus? Of course, it is! (Hallelujah!) That’s why we need to spread the gospel so that others can have that same hope.
Today, let’s pray for Marty – a man who has lived with a debilitating lung disease for years. After going through countless amounts of testing and procedures, and trying various medicine, his doctor cleared him for a lung transplant. That required more testing and more procedures. It took months for him to have everything done to be approved to be put on the list. Finally, the day came. They had a set of lungs for him, but first, he had to take a covid test. The result was positive. He was unable to have the transplant even though he was certain he didn’t have Covid. He had to wait another two weeks to be put back on the list. During that time his doctor revisited some imaging done prior to Marty’s approval. He saw some “spots.” A biopsy was done. He has cancer and only a few months to live.
His attitude and countenance are a tribute to the Almighty God. Marty knows that when the day comes, he will no longer be suffering AND he will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior! What a day that will be! We will grieve our loss at that time. We will miss him, but we have the assurance of being reunited someday. This earthly body is temporary and imperfect. Our heavenly bodies will be glorious! Praise God!
Update
This was originally written and posted on Facebook on June 12, 2022. On July 23, 2022, Marty went home to be with the Lord.
Quote
“The righteous are put into their graves all weary and worn; but as such they will not rise. They go there with the furrowed brow, the hollowed cheek, the wrinkled skin; they shall wake up in beauty and glory.”
Charles Spurgeon
Bible Verse of the Day
There are also celestial [heavenly] bodies and terrestrial [earthly] bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians 15:40-49 NKJV [ ] indicates footnotes from Biblegateway.com
Prayer
Father, God, we praise Your holy name! We thank You for the promise of heaven and for our future celestial bodies. We thank You for the time when there’ll be no more sorrow or pain. Please, Lord, be with Marty and his family during this period of transition. Give them strength and encouragement. Please keep Marty comfortable. Help him to breathe easier and take away his pain. Comfort his family, Lord, and give them the peace that You provide. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.
Questions? Comments?
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