Living with Uncertainty

The elders at Grace Community Church have graciously granted me time off to take care of my dear wife during her illness. There are a number of men preaching over a two to three month stretch. I have to tell you that I am eager to get back in the pulpit! I will be sharing a little on Easter Sunday and then be back preaching regularly beginning the first Sunday of May. For the time being, I usually share what God is doing in our lives during the prayer time on Sunday mornings. This past Sunday morning, the GCC family heard most of what I am going to share in this post - but I will begin with the latest from the doctors, and it continues to be good news!

Yesterday, our radiologist told us that Linda had done better than he had ever hoped she would. Today, our neurosurgeon concurred! Also, Dr. Lacin, our neurosurgeon, told us that he doubts the shadow on the MRI is an indication of bleeding in the brain, because if the tumor were bleeding, she would be getting worse. Instead, she is much better. Praise the Lord!

But, she still has cancer. On tonight's news we heard that Tony Snow, the White House Press Secretary, is fighting cancer again. His mother died with colon cancer. Tony successfully battled cancer two years ago. This time, the cancer has spread to his liver - he is in trouble. Quite a few people have beaten it the second time around, though. I am sure you know that Elizabeth Edwards is once again battling cancer after a short remission. On the other hand, a lady in our church overcame colon cancer 11 years ago and is doing fine. When you have cancer, you live with uncertainty.

But, in reality, we all live with uncertainty, don't we? Linda's tumor could disappear tomorrow and then both of us die in an automobile accident the next day! The only thing certain in this life is that we will all die one day. So, we all live with uncertainty. But, that does not mean we live fearfully or in despair. In fact, if we know Jesus, we live with incredible hope of heaven, and we walk (day to day living) by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10:

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

What a perspective Paul had! He actually wanted to be in heaven! We don't tend to want to go just yet, though. And, why should we? We live in heaven! With our prosperity, our freedom, the technology we have, we have almost everything we want. Why leave this earth? I would imagine believers in the Sudan, or in Saudia Arabia, or in North Korea would view heaven a little differently than most of us do. But that's not my main thought, anyway.

If we assess the world around us and our circumstances without looking to the Lord, we will live one way. If we keep our eyes on heaven (Colossians 3:1-4), we will live another way. In fact, we will live by faith, realizing that one day we will give an account to Jesus for how we have lived our lives, regardless of our circumstances.

Sometimes our circumstances create a great deal of uncertainty. That is the case with us. That absolutely does not mean that we live uncertainly, though! We walk by faith, knowing that each day may be our last. In fact, we probably have an advantage over many, realizing how fragile life is and realizing what is really important in life.

So, may I encourage you to allow a bit of uncertainty in your own life? Not that I wish you will hear the words "you have cancer" from a doctor, but I do want you to be aware of how fragile life is with all that can happen, and how precious it is, because it is our only chance to live in such a way as to give a good report at the judgment seat of Christ.

In closing, we are delighted with Linda's good news! And even though we live with uncertainty, I will gladly take 30 to 40 years of uncertainty with my bride!