On Having Cancer
I am writing this article while on vacation at Russ Wayland’s wonderful cabin in northern Washington called the “Refuge.” Two days ago, I learned that I have prostate cancer. I have not met with the doctor in person yet. He told me on the phone that it was a small, non-aggressive form of cancer. I still do not know what type of treatment will be necessary.
In writing about my cancer, I certainly do not want to over-dramatize it in any way. Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer and mine has been detected very early. Years ago, I visited a young farmer in his thirties named Ellis in the hospital. He was the sole worker on his farm, he had several children, and he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. His diagnosis and prognosis was so much more threatening than mine was. Ellis bore striking testimony to God’s grace until several months later when he was ushered into heaven. I think of others I have known and ministered to who died of more serious forms of cancer and throughout gave testimony to the sufficiency of Christ. Many of our own Village Missionaries have battled and are battling truly serious forms of cancer. No, my form of cancer is a very small this and I would not have you think otherwise.
In addition, if you would label this a tragedy, which for many reasons it is not, it is a small tragedy indeed. I think of Gayle Warner from our church in Red Feather Lakes, CO. Her husband Charlie pulled out in front of oncoming traffic. Charlie was killed instantly and Gayle was severely hurt. I arrived at the hospital just as Gayle was being wheeled to the x-ray room. The nurse stopped the gurney for me and I had prayer. Then Gayle said to me, in her pain and in her sorrow, “God doesn’t make mistakes!” Gayle responded with faith and grace in a hugely bigger trial than my own.
Having any form of cancer, however, has caused me to reflect, especially on the reality of Jesus Christ. I have dug deeper into several truths about Him that perhaps would not be quite as meaningful for me in a time of health. It says of David after receiving news of Ziklag that “David strengthened himself in the Lord His God.” I would like to share some of the ways God has strengthened me in the hopes that they might help someone.
Before I do so, I do want to remind the mission family of the importance of regular physicals. My elevated P.S.A. level was discovered through the blood work done at staff conference. Having a regular physical has made the difference between detecting my cancer at a very early stage and perhaps not detecting it at all until it had spread outside the prostate. Occasionally I hear of missionaries (sometimes from upset and frightened wives) that they refuse to have a physical. I cannot begin to grasp the thinking behind this or the danger inherent in this. If Paul warned Timothy to take precautions about his frequent stomach ailments, certainly there is wisdom in taking precautions about our health. God has given doctors today the ability to address problems before they become too serious. If we love those around us, we ought to be wisely taking care of our health.
Well, I only have space for one spiritual strengthening. For me, it is by far the strongest. It is that God has already shown me unbelievable mercy and grace by saving me. We think of many passages of Scripture that express this truth but perhaps one of the clearest is Ephesians 2:4-6:
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (NASB)
By any measure, God could have justifiably regarded me with holy wrath for my sin. I more than deserved it. Instead, He chose to expend that holy wrath for my transgressions on His Son. He did so that He could justly justify me (Rom. 3:26). However, God did so much more than merely forgive my sin. He made me alive with Christ and He seated me with Him in the heavenly places. He made me a forever object of the surpassing riches of His grace.
Doing what He has done for us in Christ is so much more than we deserve. If, after trusting Christ as Savior in 1972, my life was nothing but disaster and disease piled upon disaster and disease, that still would not in any way detract from God’s extravagant grace. It is just too extravagant—too amazing—too bountiful! To be mad at God or question God now would be like a son who received a $5,000,000 inheritance questioning why he also didn’t receive an old shoe!
The joy of trials like these is that in some ways they provide the black backdrop that makes God’s extravagant grace shine even brighter.
More spiritual strengthening next time.
