Living with Cancer

Every month I receive an e-newsletter from the American Cancer Society, called “Living with Cancer.” As I was doing my usual delete-without-reading, it suddenly occurred to me we are all living with “something” we would rather not be. Maybe something temporary, like a financial loss or an inconsiderate roommate. Or more long-term, like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Whatever it is, we think we would be better off without it.

These days, you will find a plethora of books telling you how to tolerate/manage this undesirable thing. But in God's economy, you cannot live ‘without’ it: “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow... and when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4). By living with our “self-eliminating cancers,” we are all being conformed to the image of Jesus. Given that, how can we possibly say we would rather not be living with it?

No Longer “Dying to Live”

“Past” is a noun that refers to history, as in these converse statements: “he had a rich past,” or “he regretted his past.” Whether memorable or regrettable, we cannot live in the past: what’s passed is in the past.

But having become the recipient of “new things” in Christ: behold I make all things new (Rev. 21:5), we must be diligent and deliberate in leaving the past behind—every day. This is the “dying to live” principle by which I have sought to live my life, however ineffectively. Perhaps it is because I have so many unspeakable things in my past that I have made every effort to “die” to what-was in order to “live” to what-is.

Because my failures in this pursuit far outweighed my successes, I relish the day when the truth will be reality—the day when I will no longer be “dying to live.” I will have left the past behind forever.

Never say “DIE”

Last month, I learned that my pancreatic cancer had returned. My oncologist’s first words were, “you must start treatment immediately.” Considering how quickly the cancer had advanced since my last treatments, I said 'no.' But more to the point, I have God's perfect peace about “going home,” an event some refer to as death.

But John says we “in” Christ have already “passed from death to life” (1 John 3:14), and will never die. As Jesus’ death is in the “past,” ours too. And as He lives, we too.

“Passed” (not “past”) means to move beyond. As long as we are on earth, there are things in the “past” we cannot seem to get “passed”—things that still affect us, even if only indirectly. In light of this, think again of Paul’s declaration, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new person. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Admittedly, this proclamation is somewhat elusive while we are bound by time and space. But after we “pass” out of time into eternity, our newness will be profoundly palpable.

How do you Spell Success?

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey is so popular that many evangelicals use it as a blueprint for disciples. How many, I wonder, are aware that Covey’s Mormon faith underlies his success-building philosophy? It is called the doctrine of “eternal progression”—an upward-spiraling development of the human soul that spells success and perfection, and leads to one's own deity.

Why has this self-help, you-can-be-a-better person view point found such wide acceptance among evangelicals? Is it because it fits better into what they would like to believe? One thing I have observed is that those who expound on messages of success seldom teach the harder things of discipleship—like brokenness, suffering, humility, or delay. An unbiblical view of success and prosperity has the potential to do more damage to one's faith than almost any other misunderstood doctrine.

Pre-Antichrist Conditioning?

According to the organizers of a conference on “Exorcism and Prayers of Liberation” in Rome this week, the decline of traditional religious beliefs in the West has greatly increased the number of people pursuing black magic, Satanism, and the occult. Coincidentally, a Satanic Black Mass reenactment took place at Harvard University this week, by the Satanic Temple, a group that has filed legislation in Oklahoma to allow a statue of Satan to be installed on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Is this a sign of the times? Will there be an increase of demonic activity in the last days? Yes and yes. But beyond the issue of greater recognition is the normalizing of demonic supernaturalism—something the secularists would have laughed at a half-century ago.  Now it is an assumed reality that has gotten all mixed up with belief in extraterrestrials! Some end-time experts are calling this a pre-antichrist conditioning.

Set your Sights Higher

Fortunate as Altha and I are to live at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, there is hill close by I can climb when I need a little perspective. My friend John Woodward recently wrote a post entitled, “A Higher View,” in which he poses the question, “Why is it so fascinating to get a higher perspective? Could it be that we get accustomed to the ordinary appearance of our surroundings and lose sight of the larger scene?”

One of the reasons I was put off by the movie (remember, I didn’t read the book) “Heaven is for Real” is that it presented Heaven as a “place”—more than what it is: a higher realm. The closer I get to my last days on earth, the more I take comfort in higher thoughts. (I am just sorry it took so long to get me to this point!) While we are yet living in this lower realm, it is “natural” to get caught up in it (or is it ‘caught down’?). What better person than Paul—who was once caught up to the third heaven—to exhort us, “Set your sight on things above” (Col. 3:2, Jubilee Bible). To do otherwise is to be terribly short-sighted (2 Peter 1:9).

What is the biggest thing in the Universe?

Whenever the stresses of life “distress” you, do you fantasize an escape? A Caribbean cruise or European vacation? Or just a day in the woods, or a walk on the beach? “From my distress I called upon the LORD who answered me and set me in a large place” (Ps. 118:5). “Distress” refers to confinement (Ps. 4:1). Whether a jail cell or classroom; a difficult task or a challenging relationship—it is the feeling of being pressed in, i.e., a ‘tight spot.’ In contrast, a “large place” signifies the freedom of wide-open space.

Solomon said “God has put eternity in our hearts” (Eccl. 3:11). If time is the vestibule of eternity, it is not surprising we feel confined in this narrow hallway called earth. If, as A.W. Tozer says, the biggest thing in the universe is the human spirit, it is no wonder we cannot be satisfied with such a small space. 

Fear of Spiritual Heights?

An avalanche on Mount Everest last month killed 16 Sherpa guides. Closer to home, a 28 year old man died in a climbing accident on El Capitan in Yosemite Park last year. No one can deny the danger of climbing. Only the fearless attempt it.

Likewise, the higher places of spiritual life are hazardous. The Psalmist acknowledges this when he says, “He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places” (18:33). The high places represent, spatially, closeness to God and greater spiritual sight (and insight).

The fear of spiritual heights is justified. If you fall—unlike nature’s climber, you will not be destroyed—you will be more hurt than the security-seekers on the ground! (But think of the ecstasies you would miss!) Take confidence in the “God who is able to keep you from falling and bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault” (Jude 24). Be fearless! Think about the spiritual revelations waiting for you at the summit! Think about Jesus high and lifted up.

You Complete Me

I am not sure where the expression “You complete me” originates. It was certainly popularized by the movie, “Jerry Maguire,” where Tom Cruise’s character declares it to Renée Zellweger. It is the foolish notion that we can be “whole” if we find our “other half,” our “soul mate”—that person who fills our longings. Only God can do that. In fact, He who began His good work within you, promises to complete it (Phil. 1:6).

 
That's not to say, however, that God doesn't use people in the process. Through personal interactions (that seem to bring out the worst in us), we are made painfully aware of the work God must do in us to fit us together in faith and knowledge until we measure up to the standard of perfection, Christ. (Eph. 4:13).
 
So as God completes us individually, He fits us into the ‘whole’ until it is perfectly fit for Christ (Eph. 4:16; 5:27; Col. 2:10). So then it is not so terribly wrong to say to one another, “you complete me.”

The Faith Journey doesn’t come with a Map!

There is a universal stereotype that men don’t ask for directions and women can’t read maps. However erroneous, or not (isn’t there is a kernel of truth to a stereotype?), it paints a rather bleak picture of “lost” mankind—combining stubborn independence with and unqualified helplessness.

And that’s what distinguishes the faith of Abraham. With no ‘directions’ other than “leave house and homeland, and go to the land I will show you” Abraham “obeyed, and went out not knowing where he was going” (Gen. 12:1-2; Heb. 11:8). Who does that?

What a lesson in faith. With nothing more than a promise, Abraham believed God's destiny (destination) for him. Are we believers? Are we willing to go the course, with no directions, and no map? Someone has said “Even though Abraham didn’t know where he was going, he knew Who he was going with.” Centuries later, Jesus looked at a ‘lost’ generation, and simply said, “Follow me.”

Walking on Water

When Peter tried to walk on water, he took his eyes off Jesus and sank. But Jesus picked him up, saying, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?” (Matt. 14). Likewise, on our journey of faith, each of us is confronted by doubts—we cry out, “Lord, help me overcome my unbelief”  (Mark 9:24). Having doubts is normal. The important thing is how we handle them.

Imagine that doubt is a fork-in-the-road of faith (we'll have many of these in a lifetime). One road leads to the resolution of doubt to greater faith. The other is a dead-end of double-mindedness (James 1:8).

Double-mindedness (not doubt) was the primal sin: “I am afraid that you will be led astray from your pure and undivided devotion to Christ just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s craftiness” (2 Co. 11:3). Jesus attributes Martha's anxiety to double-mindedness while honoring Mary's singular attention on Him. (Luke 10:41-42). So, to the degree we fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2), we will overcome troubling doubts and walk on the waters of bigger faith (Col. 3:2). Just like Peter did!

Don’t let it be the National Day of Half-a-Prayer

Today in the U.S., it is the annual National Day of Prayer. Undoubtedly, many Christians will be asking God to change our country and our culture. They will pray for wisdom for our leaders. They will pray against the moral issues of the day. They will confront the evil forces at work in our land. They will pray for revival.

But to confront the darkness in this world without also asking God to search and root out the pockets of darkness in our own hearts is only half a prayer.

In speaking of the National Day of Prayer, Daniel Henderson of ‘Strategic Renewal’ writes, “When we pray for other issues and miss the primary need to become more like Christ as we pray, we are shortsighted. When we pray in order to be changed, we become [God’s] agents of change.”