C Word by Michael Sprague

 THE “C” WORD

Over the last ten days, since my prostate cancer diagnosis, I have been amazed how many of my friends or those close to them, have been touched by this disease. This ugly enemy called cancer is no respecter of persons, for sure. It can evoke a variety of emotions like disappointment, despair, desperation, depression, even anger.  

One unknown author, a cancer survivor, wrote something that puts cancer in perspective.

Cancer is so limited …
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill friendships.
It cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot steal eternal life.
It cannot conquer the Spirit.

Cancer hurts. The stories I have already heard range from reassuring to inspiring to heartbreaking. I definitely do not mean to trivialize or minimize cancer. We do not need nickel answers to million dollar questions but a Biblical outlook and an eternal perspective helps and leads to hope. Cancer does not have the final say. This is true for all the other trials of life as well. It helps to stand upon the promises of God:

1. God is sovereign. 

2. The tomb is empty.

3. The grave is temporary housing.

4. God never leaves us nor forsakes us.

5. God uses everything for His glory and our good.

6. Heaven is a heartbeat away.

7. Sorrow may come at night but joy comes in the morning.

8. God knows my name and every hair on my head.

9. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. 

10. There is no medical problem that a new resurrection body can’t fix.

11. We may shake upon the Rock but the ROCK does not shake under us.

12. God never says, “Oops”.

13. We are not spiritual orphans but spiritual sons or daughters, in Christ.

14. We can bet the farm on Jesus. 

15. With Jesus there is always hope.

16. If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 

My benediction for you today comes from Ephesians 3:20-21 — Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We might say, “I’m not able” but God is ABLE. 

We cannot change our circumstances but God is ABLE.

We may be out of strength, energy, strength and ideas but God is ABLE.

God is ABLE for your illness, family, mental health, job, finances, miracles, ordinary days, waiting seasons, and dreams.

God is ABLE to do immeasurably more than we were asking or imagining last night. May Jesus get the glory through you and me, through our weaknesses and brokenness and devotion to Him, as imperfect as it might be.

2 Corinthians 4:17: "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."