The Power Is His

The Power Is His

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20

“Tell me what’s going on,” I said to Erin. It had been a while since her last appointment.

“Oh, I’m not having any problems. I just haven’t had a checkup in a while, and I thought I should probably get one.”

“Great, I’m glad you’re feeling well.” As I glanced at her paperwork, something caught my eye. “Looks like you marked “yes” to both abdominal pain and recent weight loss. Tell me more about that.”

“Oh, I just marked it because it asked, but I’m not really having any problems,” she said.

I asked Erin more specific questions about her pain and the amount of her weight loss, but she assured me it was nothing.

“There are a couple of things that concern me,” I said. “I think we should have them checked out just to make sure.”

The following week, I sat at my desk staring in disbelief at Erin’s test results. They showed a metastatic renal cell carcinoma—cancer of the kidneys that had spread to other organs.

When I gave Erin the diagnosis, her eyes filled with tears as she tried to understand how she could go from feeling good to being diagnosed with an incurable illness.

I took her hand and said, “Only the Lord knows our time on earth and the journey he has ordained for us to travel. As your doctor, I promise to do everything I can to make your journey as pain-free and comfortable as possible. As your friend and brother in Christ, I will continue to pray for God’s healing hand and mercy upon you.”

Though I look forward expectantly to one day crossing from this world to the next, I know that many people are not prepared to face the end of their time here on earth—certainly not before they might expect it. My best advice is to prepare your heart and soul for eternity before you are confronted with the reality of your mortality. Above all, trust God. Only he knows when your day will arrive.

TODAY’S RX

God holds the power of life and death. Entrust him with your destiny.

Plant a desire for heaven deeper in my heart, Lord. Help me to realize how temporary my time on earth is, and allow me to use the days I have left in a way that brings you glory.