One morning a few weeks ago, a friend dropped by school to see me. He said, “I ran across this letter and thought of you, so I brought you a copy.” The letter was written by his cousin Julie in 2006, who was battling cancer.
Julie died later that year. I remember the courage and faith of a lady who lived a brief but victorious life.
The afternoon of that same day, I learned that the father of Ashley, one of my former students, had been admitted to hospice. About two years ago, Ashley told me her dad had been diagnosed with cancer. Knowing what her family faced, I did my best to encourage a student the same way others have encouraged my children throughout the years. Five days after being admitted to hospice care, Ashley’s dad passed away.
The family asked me to share some thoughts at the funeral. As I visited with Ashley, her mom, and her younger brother in their home, I could not help but remember that such sorrowful times are inevitable on this earth. If we are all to face death one day, why do we not constantly keep life’s brevity in mind? That was one thought the family wanted me to share: “Please remind everyone of what is really important.” Julie’s words from her letter written seven years ago seemed appropriate.
You see, no matter what happens, I win! If the Lord graciously heals me with a miracle, I will rejoice and tell of his mighty power to save, giving him the credit! (It is certainly a situation that requires miraculous work.) If the Lord allows the continuation of this disease over the next months ending in death, I still win, because I can confidently say, ‘I love Jesus!’ He will not allow anything to harm me without his all-knowing, all-good direction. Nothing can separate me from him and his love. Nothing else matters, ultimately! What makes Heaven ‘Heaven’ is Jesus!
Now, what about you? Do you love Jesus? Do you love him more than anything or anyone in your life? Don’t wait to decide! This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself. When you have nothing left but Jesus, it is easy to be bold. It is during ‘every day life’ that it is easy to sit back and coast with wasted time and energy on non-valuable things. It is easy to not love and to let those you love and care about continue along a path that leads to destruction and death. I love you all and desire for you to be able to live and die with confidence – not in yourselves, but in the Lord. Jesus saves… and not just for a few years of human life and struggle… He saves forever and completely!
“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalms 73:23-26