Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • comparison

    —

    Dana

    The doctor that first discovered I had cancer is a friend and Christian brother. When he saw me several weeks ago, He praised God and gave thanks that I was doing so well. He then told an amazing story about a man who goes to his church. When this man went for an examination, doctors found a large mass in his chest which seemed to indicate a dangerous cancer. Surgery was scheduled for the next week.

    The Sunday before he was to have surgery, this man brought his need before the church and all the believers prayed with great fervency for a miracle. That week, as the doctors prepared for surgery, an x-ray was taken to find the exact place of the mass to be removed. But the x-ray revealed no abnormality! Puzzled, the doctors checked and re-checked, but could find nothing to remove, so there was no surgery. There was no doubt that God had answered the prayers of His people.

    My doctor friend was praising God, the great Healer, and though I joined the praise, I must confess a disturbing thought entered my mind. “God, why didn’t you heal me that way? Why did I have to go through all I did, when you could have healed me instantly?” I am not proud of this thought for I know it is really a complaint. Instead of thanking God for his abundant mercy, I began to compare the path I had to walk with the path of another.

    How easy it is to fall into the comparison trap! After the resurrection, Jesus took time to restore the disciple who had denied him three times. He then told Peter that rough days were in the future. “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Peter must not have wanted to think about Jesus’ hard words, so he began to look around. Spotting John following at a distance, Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?” (read Jesus’ humorous reply in John 21:18-23)

    I don’t think Jesus wanted Peter looking at someone else when He was talking to him. I don’t think Jesus wants me to compare my path to another’s. I think Jesus wants our total attention so we can hear his personal words: “You must follow me.” How I want to follow Him this year.

    “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

  • Light

    —

    Dana

    One day this week, I was in bed with a terrible cold. I never thought the day would pass. As time seemed to stand still, I wondered whether I would ever make it through. But one day later, I was eating lunch with a roomful of friends and the sun was shining again. What a difference a day makes!

    Last Christmas, I was sicker than I had ever been. On Christmas Eve, as my family had its usual celebrations in my parents’ den, I lay in bed wondering if I would ever be healthy again. Lord willing, in a few days, I will celebrate Christmas with my youngest brother and his family in Capetown, South Africa. What a difference a year makes!

    Once, there was only darkness on this earth. But just at the right time, God sent His Son to save us. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”(Jn 1:4) What a difference a Life makes!

    How ridiculous it would have been this week after I started feeling better, to say, “I think I’ll just stay in bed a couple of more days!” This fall, I never once thought, “I sure miss being in the hospital!” Oh that darkness would welcome Light as much as sickness welcomes health! “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (Jn 1:5,10,11,12)

    The Light and the darkness hasn’t changed.

    I hope you all have a great holiday season. You have blessed me and my family so much this past year. I cannot say “Thank you” enough. I hope to write again in a couple of weeks!

  • from heaven or hell?

    —

    Dana

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” It almost seems as if James says the trials we endure are blessings from heaven. But aren’t so many things we face today a result of a fallen world? How could I ever think cancer is from heaven? Are those being persecuted for their faith today not suffering hell’s attacks? Are we not supposed to resist the devil? “…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

    At some point in their lives, three young Hebrew boys decided to follow God with all their hearts. Everything from hell comes against such faith. In this case it was an ungodly king, an evil law, and torturous consequences for doing what was right. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego resisted the temptation to compromise in order to save their own lives. They passed a test of faith and learned to persevere. The fiery furnace was simply the result of saying ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to the world. In their case, God used strategies from hell to bring Him glory and teach us many things. We learn that those who go into the flames tied up may be set free in the fire. We learn that those who truly walk by faith will not walk alone. And we learn that those who know nothing about the one true God can come to know Him as His children follow Him at any cost. (see Daniel 3)

    Lest we think every trial will result in a miracle that overcomes physical death, we simply look to Jesus. As He tried to prepare His disciples for His destiny, Peter vehemently objected. Peter knew hell was at work. Surely heaven would never allow evil men to falsely accuse and kill the only truly good man to ever live. With words that must have shocked Peter, Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matt. 16:23) Jesus resisted the devil, but He did not resist the cross. By allowing His Son to endure the most difficult of trials, God gave us the greatest gift from heaven.

    Only God can turn the assaults of hell into the purest of gold. None will escape difficulties on this earth, but One has overcome. What hope we have in Him! “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

  • fire and rain

    —

    Dana

    “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…” James Taylor was not the only one who talked about fire and water. Isaiah spoke the words of God to Israel: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2) John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

    I have a missionary friend who is a master potter. Every time I see him teach, using the analogy of God as the Potter, I marvel at our Creator’s mysterious ways. The potter chooses the clay. He then pours water on the clay to prepare it. The potter applies pressure at different points to form what he desires. He then puts his creation in the fire.

    I confess I don’t know much about pottery, but the master potter knows exactly what he’s doing. I would think that water would just make a big mess, but the potter knows it is needed. I would think fire would do great harm to clay, but the potter knows it is essential. I realize it is pointless to argue with the potter’s ways…so why should I argue with God?

    Jesus proclaimed He came to bring fire to this earth. He admitted He did not look forward to what His Father was going to put Him through, but He did not complain. “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!” (Luke 12:49-50) No matter what we endure, if we can trust the One who knows all things and has all power, we shall find it is worth it. “We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:12

  • death

    —

    Dana

    How we need the perspective of Jesus about death!  Knowing it was an enemy, Jesus came and faced the penalty that entered the world through man’s sin.  “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

    Though we often just think of the physical, Jesus sees death from an eternal point of view.  As close as I may have been to physical death last year, there was a time when I was worse off.  I didn’t look bad.  I was healthy and strong.  I was popular.  I had everything a man could want, but Jesus knew I was dead.  When one sees himself in such a hopeless place he cries, “What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

    If someone discovers a cure for cancer, we will all rejoice, but there is a far more deadly disease at work in this world… and people seem to pay little attention.  Sin kills.  “The wages of sin is death.”  But Jesus came to raise the dead!  Do you hear His voice?

    I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?

    I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

    If we are intrigued by such words and want to follow, He tells us we must count the cost:

    If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

    And if we claim there are more urgent matters at hand, Jesus says hard things:

    “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  But Jesus told him, “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.”

    And if we follow awhile, we hear even harder things:

    I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.  I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

    If we resist the temptation to walk away, knowing there is no other place to go, we shall find He really is the only One with words of eternal life.  And we shall discover we need not fear.

    “‘Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?’  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  I Corinthians 15:55-57

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