My Journey With Cancer, Part 29 By David Maddox
The good news medically last week was the results of the blood test we took on Thursday which we got back today – praise God – the tumor markers continue to go down. God is working through the chemo even though our doctor admits he does not know how to cure me – it is all in God’s hands and He can heal with a word or use chemo that shouldn’t work. He is good and faithful and walks this with me in answer to your prayers.
We took an extra week so that we could get back on the Monday through Friday schedule. That additional week is so great to feel near normal – to eat and sleep well – again all those regular things that when you are well you never give a second thought to. There are long term effects of the chemo which for me include some fatigue and some numbness in feet and hands. The reality of cancer and its treatment never leaves you, but as a Believer much more importantly is that the reality God never leaves you and that He is more than enough for whatever this journey may entail.
Spiritually the week was divided into three – continued joy and peace from our retreat in Sedona, the reality of a birthday, and the trauma and sadness of Paris. The time alone with the Lord in Sedona is such a continuing blessing. The understanding of the difference between ministry and relationship and how God has called us to relationship from which flows ministry is so important. I can get lost in ministry and miss intimacy with the Lord. When that happens both the ministry and relationship suffer. I have to keep the priorities right. Jesus died that we might have a relationship with him – not simply do ministry for Him. There can be no ministry apart from relationship (John 15:5). It must be the priority.
Knowing who I am in the Lord and being satisfied with that has freed me. As Paul describes himself often in the New Testament – I am a bond slave of Jesus Christ. A slave by choice – marked for the world to see by the love of Christ – seeking to obey Him in all things knowing that Jesus my Master cares for my needs and enables me to accomplish whatever it is that He asks for me to do – and that He serves with me – and that I am never alone. What more couold you want.
A birthday for a cancer patient with stage four cancer is an event. It is another marker of God’s goodness for many others with a similar diagnosis did not have a birthday in the flesh this year. Life is both a gift and an opportunity. It is good to live that in all its reality as a cancer patient. Our lives are always in God’s hands and we can take nothing for granted, but we do. As a stage four cancer patient you can take nothing for granted. I am thankful to be like that only sorry that it took cancer to bring me to that place of understanding, but I praise God that He loved me enough to allow what it would take for me to understand life. I also am filled with a new passion to complete what God has laid out for me to do to bring Him glory. I can no longer understand how a healthy person would put off any service of God as those opportunities are not always going to be available or possible. If you have a desire given by God to serve – serve now while you can. Don’t miss the joy.
Finally the tragedy in Paris – Biblically when viewed from the perspective of eternity the great tragedy and sadness of what just happened in Paris is encapsulated by the reality of Hebrews 9:27 which says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” How many of those killed were ready for judgment? No one asks that question – but that is THE relevant question – were they ready to meet Jesus the Judge (Acts 10:42). When Jesus walked the earth He was asked about tragedies – the first was a tower that fell killing many much as the Twin Towers in New York fell. The second was when a cruel leader killed many innocents. What would you expect to be on Jesus’ heart. It may surprise you. His perspective was entirely eternal and He addressed the lesson to be learned from these tragedies for the living. The whole exchange is in Luke 13:1-5 as follows:
“There were some present at that very time who told Him (Jesus) about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Perish is the second death – the Judgment on an unrepentant sinner who does not accept the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23) (Revelation 20:11-15). The great tragedy and sadness is for those who did not know or had not heard the Gospel and who thus lost much more than their lives in Paris – including the killers who thought they were serving their understanding of God and would be rewarded. The question for those of us still living is are we ready to meet Jesus – and if so – who can we tell about Jesus so they too will be ready. That is what the Great Commission is all about. Paris teaches us that no one can live believing they are protected and have more time. Don’t let them perish.
Thanks for your prayers and company along this journey.
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.
