Sarah is still reminding us of what living and then dying can look like when rooted and grounded in the eternal realities of God’s Word! She wrote the following back in the fall of 2016 as fears about Ebola raged.
As what would have been our five year anniversary approaches this Friday, I’m so thankful that I had the privilege and joy to see her live this approach out while daily battling many trials. Though she is gone, her impact lives on in each life she touched. May God stir up this same faith in us!
I both understand and empathize with why people are so concerned, so *please* don’t take this as me trying to admonish anyone. With that being said…
I’m just not worried about Ebola and I’ve been asking myself why?
Maybe it’s because I’ve had cancer. Maybe it’s because I went through a very serious and dangerous post op hemorrhage. Maybe it’s because I had a severe colon infection that caused a dangerous fever, put me into hypovolemic shock, and landed me in the hospital for a week. I can’t remember it of course, but when I was a 1 day old newborn I developed a blood clot in one of my kidneys and came very close death. So from early on, God was creating this “theme” in my life….I understand it’s a unique perspective that not everyone shares.
I can tell you this – my lack of worry does not stem from thinking it cannot happen to me. Going through serious health issues has made me fully aware that it *can* happen to me.
God has spared my life many times. I’ve learned empirically that life and death are truly in His hands. As Christians we somewhat casually express that truth from time to time, but I think it’s a truth we ought to handle more thoughtfully. By His grace alone, He has taught me that living in fear of what might happen next is not helpful to me, and much worse, it’s dishonoring to Him. Does that mean I never struggle? Of course not. But when I do, I have to choose to renew my mind in the word of God and turn away from thoughts that rob me of peace and hinder me from looking to Christ as my source of joy and strength.
I love my life! But if God wants to call me home to Heaven, I am OK with that. I am actually more than OK with it! I desire to be with my Savior, but I trust in His perfect timing, and until that time, I rejoice in this life on earth – though there are many trials and burdens we all must face – I know I do not face them alone.
If you’re reading this and thinking “wow! how can you not be scared of death?” — the reason is my Savior. The peace of salvation, in Jesus Christ, is available to you. If you have questions, please feel free to send me a message. I’d love to share with you what Christ has done in my heart and life.
See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. Deuteronomy 32:39
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. Romans 3:23-25