The Everyday Club

11/11/10      Jeff, 42
Please pray for my friend Jeff who has both liver and pancreatic cancer. The doctors have given up on chemotherapy or any sort of treatment and are now focusing on reducing the pain and hospice care. Jeff began to visit our church half a year ago and has slowly been growing in his understanding of the gospel. I've shared God's plan of salvation with him clearly several times, and others have as well. I did once again at the hospital today, with mixed feelings. In a way, of course, it seems so much more critical that he comes to a right relationship with God as he faces the probability of dying soon. But it was tempting to feel that talking about eternity is to admit defeat or maybe even a lack of faith that God will heal him here and now. I said a few things that helped put it in perspective and want to share here for others in the same situation. First, I expressed hope for healing of course but also reminded him that even if he is healed of his cancer, he will still die one day. Life isn't guaranteed - he could die in an accident on his way home from the hospital. So whether he is healed from this present disease or not, it is absolutely crucial that he come to Christ and be saved now, not waiting any longer. Second, I reminded him of what we are saved from - God's righteous wrath over our rebellion against Him. For any one of us to be blessed with another day of life is an act of loving mercy on God's part - something none of us deserve. Jeff's extended terminal illness is a blessing in one way - it gives him time to repent and believe and be saved. Jeff feels he must try to become a good person and try to prove his repentence in order to be forgiven. Please pray that he will trust in Christ's work, completed on the cross, and not feel he has to add anything to it to be saved.