If they offered you a pill that would cure your cancer, that would cure your suffering, your pain, would you take it? If they offered you an injection that would allow you to live a healthy life for a thousand years, would you accept it? No stipulations, no requirements necessary, simply get in line, receive what is needed, and then go on with your life, would you get in line?
Take a few moments to seriously contemplate this, and then answer to yourself, is Philippians 1:21 true to you, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Is the physical pain from the Lord to teach you humility, is the terminal diagnosis of cancer His message to you to prepare your heart to meet Him in glory? Are you in a hurry to be in the presence of joy for all eternity, or do you want to stay here for as long as possible?
I personally believe that most people who say they serve Jesus Christ only serve Him when times are beneficial to them, when life is going as expected or hoped for, but when the circumstances are altered, when they become disadvantageous, they not only falter and doubt, but leave Him altogether, and I believe there is proof of this in the Scriptures.
When He stopped feeding them, when He said, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54) When they were in the garden that night. Slowly, over time, everyone left Him.
I do not believe that most who call themselves Christians want to be with the Lord, they just want to escape the current circumstances in their lives that they do not like, and heaven to them is no more than a place with no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow. As long as things are going well, they rarely if ever give any thought to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yes, most would say, “Give me the pill, give me the injection, make me whole, keep me free from pain and the fear of death.” To live is Christ, as long as I like the way things are going, and to die is gain, as long as I reach an old age, can still function well, and I can die in my sleep peacefully.”
Serving Christ in constant, physical pain or when the flesh knows no adverse condition, which one do you think shows a greater trust in the path that the Almighty has set before a man?
Looking forward to leaving this planet through death, or trying to stay here as long as possible, which one says, “to die is gain?”
I have attempted to have this conversation with preppers, those who hoard every conceivable item to maintain their earthly existence for as long as possible and have yet to find one that can comprehend the truth of these words. I have spoken to medical professionals who will not even discuss the subject matter at length. What would you do if the pain could be averted, if death could be held at bay for another 100 years, or maybe 1,000?
You must consider this question, does the Most High want us to suffer physical pain? If not, why does He allow it, and if so, what is the purpose of it?
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
If He did not spare His own Son, why should He spare you?
I understand that most of you reading this poorly written letter will be able to do no more than say “Thy will be done,” but are you doing so because that’s just the way it is and you need to accept it, or for His glory, out of a love for Him that says, “Here is my life, do with it whatever you want to, as long as it glorifies your name.”
“To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Are you sure about that?
