Another Test?

 

This morning came with mixed emotions. I was dreaming of a stage play about the gospel. The person in the role of Jesus was exceptionally realistic and the storyline was accurate and powerful. Then my hubby woke me to say he was leaving for the ER. He’d been having some unusual pain and called the health link, answered many questions, then was told to see a doctor within three hours.

That still, small voice whispers, “I am with you” but makes no predictions. My devotions offered this:

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29–30)

The first thing I noticed was the absence in that list of leaving a spouse. Family rifts over the issue of faith in Christ does not include couples. While the Bible encourages marriage with another Christian, it does give direction to wives whose husbands are not believers and so on, but leaving a partner for Jesus’ sake is not given as an option. Also, our vows say “in sickness or in health” married couples are to take that seriously.

Thinking that this could be serious and even deadly, it didn’t cross my mind to throw my hands in the air and give up. That alone encourages me. The Lord has blessed our marriage — through thick and thin.

The next thing I noted is that God promises that no matter what the gospel causes me to leave behind, the Lord will amply take care of the hole it might otherwise leave. House, siblings, parents, children, land… none of it will remain a loss. He will fill the gap. Even now, our grandchildren all live far away, but other children call us their grandparents.

Then I saw the verse for tomorrow. One word surprised me:

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:21–23)

All that God gives, leaders, the world, life in the present and future, and Christ of course, includes death. Most Christians I know are thankful for all those things, but pray that none of us experience death. We know ‘all are terminal’ yet death is not considered something that belongs to us, just as much as all else is ours. Few consider death as part of what we have because we belong to God.

Death is often seen as an enemy, but this passage says death is no longer a master but a servant. It becomes part of God's plan, a transition to the next life. Christians are not bound by the limitations of the natural world, including the threat of death. We have a new perspective on both life and death as they are now part of God's larger plan. Death is a defeated enemy.

My hubby may have nothing seriously wrong, but at our age, death is taking our peers and illness is a common complaint. Having a sound, biblical view is vital for peace of mind.

PRAY: Jesus, this unexpected event feels like a test to show me how I should think. It reveal some fears that pop up about what might happen next. You are always good and use all things for good. Enable my faith in You to be an anchor for my heart and mind and also for my dear hubby’s emotions and thoughts. May our words and thoughts trust and glorify You.

 (Later… best case scenario. The CAT scan showed a treatable issue and hubby did not need surgery or be admitted for more tests. He is back home. Thank You, Lord.)