THE KEY TO EVERYTHING by David Maddox
Sometimes as I read or listen to the comments people make about my walk through this journey with cancer I feel a little like Paul and Barnabas must have felt at Lystra when God showed Paul that a man crippled from birth had the faith to be made well so he “said in a loud voice, ‘stand upright on your feet’ – and he did. The crowd who witnessed this went sort of crazy (I am NOT saying that any of you are crazy) and declared Paul and Barnabas “gods” and sought to sacrifice to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crowd declaring, “Men why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them” (Acts 14:8-18). The issue is that sometimes we look at what God is doing in and through someone and credit them – forgetting that what they have done was actually the work of God and not themselves. Jesus laid out the key to everything for a Believer. He declared an amazing truth saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” John 15:5). It is that last clause which seems to get lost – “apart from Me you can do nothing”. Truer words were never spoken. It is the Lord who enables. Without Him we are lost in fear and personal effort and if something seems to be working we add pride to our list of sins.
So here is the truth. In my family there have been at least three generations where someone died from cancer. For years (literally decades) my “hidden fear” was that I would get cancer like my grandparents, my Dad, and my older brother. Then it happens, BUT in one night when God made His presence known and began by the Holy Spirit to take me on a journey through Scripture – the fear was replaced with peace – not a peace that I would necessarily be healed, but a peace that I was being carried in His hands and that He was in control. Surrendering yourself to one who loved you enough to come and die for you on a cruel Roman cross is not hard – and as He walks you through the times of difficulty and what could be real discouragement it is not hard to turn from fear to thanksgiving – and as He continues to open His Word and share with you more of what He seeks to do in and through you in these circumstances your fears turn to rejoicing as you seek to find ways that He can be glorified through this walk (because He deserves to be glorified) and your desire is to see that the work that He gave you to do is accomplished .
I just need to declare clearly that anything you have seen in my life through this journey that is good or positive or encouraging is all God at work – none of it is me alone – and He deserves all the honor and glory for He has done incredible things. People say I should gather my writings on this journey and publish them in a book. Perhaps someday, but then this story does not have a conclusion – and for the story to be God’s story I must continue to abide in Him and walk by faith. That, my Believing friend, is a daily and sometimes hourly decision as some of you walking through similar difficulties know – and nothing God has done in my life is any different than what He will do in your life if you abide in Him and walk in faith and just let Him be who He is. Just pray that I be faithful – for I know that God will be faithful – and that He will do the rest – whatever that may required – and however this story ends.
More here: My Journey with cancer, Part 4
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.