The last couple weeks have been rough for a lot of people I care about.
First of all, the grandson of two of our church members died at just 29 years old of cancer. We’d been praying for him for months and for awhile he seemed to have turned the corner. Unfortunately, in the last few weeks things went downhill fast. I didn’t know him personally, but my heart aches for his grandparents whom Ana and I consider two of our dearest friends at church. How I wish I could take away their pain.
Then, to make matters worse, Shannon, a co-worker and friend, lost her battle with cancer a few days ago. Shannon was one of the most courageous women I’ve ever met. In spite of painful treatments, losing her hair, and the cancer’s recurrence after she thought she had it beat, Shannon never lost her sense of humor or her will to fight. Her love and care for her friends and family was evident in everything she did. All of us at the Walk-in Clinic miss her deeply. She was one very special lady.
Why?
All of this has been hard to process. Why do things like this happen? Why do young men have to die, leaving parents and grandparents to grieve? Why did Shannon, someone with some much life in her and so much love to give, succumb to such a despicable disease? Why is there so much heartache and pain in this world, so much hatred and strife?
Some would blame God, but the truth is “An enemy has done this.” (Matthew 13:28). Satan, enemy of God and man, “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
Determined to destroy everything and everyone God holds dear, Satan spreads death and destruction, disease and despair into every corner of this earth. Day-after-day, in the news or at the bedside of a dying friend we see the results of his rebellion.
Good News!
But there is good news! Satan is a defeated foe! Long ago, on an old rugged cross, the Son of God laid down His life “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
By His death, Jesus redeemed humanity from their sins, removing from them the curse of death. Yes, people still die and those left behind still grieve, but not for much longer! Jesus is coming soon and when He does “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
Never again will young men die. Never again will cancer steal loving mothers and friends away. Never again will we have to say goodbye, “because the old order of things has passed away.”
Until then…
Until then we will “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12). We will “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15), but we will “not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Why? Because “we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him…” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Soon, very soon, “…the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
Until then, rest in peace Nicky and Shannon. We love you! See you soon!