June 7th Eternal Life

Years ago my dad taught me a verse from the Bible.  John 5:24 was his favorite verse and it goes like this: “²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.^[1].”  He would go on to say, “Keith, did it say you had or that you will have it? No, it says you have eternal life when you believe in Christ.”

I will never forget dad’s life verse.  He clung to that verse; he lived by that verse.  When dad got sick this past spring, I asked him one day if he remembered the verse he taught me years ago.  He started quoting John 3:16 and I said that’s not the one.  I said “verily” and he picked it up from there and very boldly with loudness quoted the verse.  The nurse next to us asked if dad was a preacher too.    I told her no, but it was his favorite verse.

There was a great deal of assurance in my sermon when I used that verse for dad’s funeral.   He heard the word of God, he believed in Christ and therefore without doubt we knew that dad was in the holy presence of God when he passed away on April 18 at 1:14 PM.

I must admit the news that my cancer is at stage four didn’t sink in until last night.  I have been a believer and a follower of Christ for a long time.  I have been in the ministry most of my life.  I know the right things to say when others are facing these kinds of life issues.  Suddenly last night at 2:30 AM I was keenly aware that this stuff could alter my life. Don’t get me wrong; I am not worried about it. But it was a great time to get honest with God and talk with him for a few minutes about reality, but also surrender to whatever He wants.  My faith is still the center of my life.  I have heard the words of God and I believe in Jesus Christ, therefore I know without a shadow of doubt that I have eternal life.

Here is my schedule for next week:

Monday June 11 –  Lab work and seven hours of Chemo

Tuesday June 12 –  Two hours of fluids and check up

Wednesday June 13 – Two hours of fluids and check up

Thursday June 14 –  Lab work

Somewhere during this week I will probably start radiation, but I have not been scheduled yet.

Please continue to pray as I start this part of the journey.

There is extreme joy in Christ.

^[1]The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Jn 5:24). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.