In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:1-2
I've been thinking a lot lately of John the Baptist. Remember he's the one who baptized Jesus in the river Jordan and ate locusts and wild honey. We all know the story of Jesus' baptism, but do we think about how John the Baptist died? It's pretty gruesome, but King Herod ordered his soldiers to decapitate John in prison. John the Baptist was an extraordinary believer in God whose mother Elizabeth was a close relative of the Virgin Mary, who lived alone in the Judean wilderness, who loved God and prayed unceasingly, who knew Jesus was the Son of God, who was respected by the people in Israel as a prophet, yet was thrown into Herod's prison, had his head slashed off and that bloody head placed on a silver platter and presented to Herodias, Herod's latest female conquest who was his brother's wife. What horror to a beloved man of God!
I ask....did John feel abandoned by God?....did he feel abandoned by Jesus? What turmoil did his mind go through as he suffered in a dark, smelly, cold, stone cell with heavy chains clanking at his feet and little to eat but moldy pieces of bread and sloshes of water? Almighty God had called him to be part of His plan introducing the Messiah to the world, calling each person to repent of their sins and thereby usher in the Savior who would give people eternal life. And here John was....hopelessly and helplessly in prison.
Have you ever felt abandoned? ............ Have you ever felt totally hopeless?........Have you ever felt complete physical, mental, emotional helplessness?......
In our day and time we are trained, taught and encouraged to be self-sufficient, independent, self-reliant, positive individuals. "I can get myself out of tight situations....there is nothing that can prevent me from my goals....I can overcome any physical, emotional, financial hurdle....because...... I am strong!" Isn't that what we say?
Let me share what happened to me!...... If you've been reading my blog you know I was diagnosed with a 'lethal, aggressive, rare' cancer of the brain in July, 2010 and given 7 weeks to live. I was totally helpless.......physically, emotionally and mentally. I knew this cancer problem was the biggest challenge in my lifetime! I could hardly walk, could not use my right hand or arm, had trouble speaking, had nightmares, cried constantly, had difficulty thinking, had trouble sleeping.........and what was worse, I did NOT know what was wrong with me and could NOT fix it myself!
And in that state of complete helplessness and confusion, guess who took over? JESUS! In my total state of complete helplessness I desperately and willingly surrendered my body, heart, soul and mind to the Lord my God....and He took over! I surrendered my will to Him and He reached out to me and lovingly cared for me. Here I was...an independent, successful woman who had reached high levels of accomplishment...professional singer, mother of four super children, published author, strong happy marriage to a loving husband, and then in July, 2010....totally helpless, afraid of being alone in a hospital bed, unable to brush my teeth, mumbling words, struggling to move my right leg....so I surrendered to the One who was there all the time waiting for me. Instead of trying to fix the problem myself... I let Him fix it ...and He did!
I'm sure John the Baptist also knew that God was with him...even when he heard the soldiers approach his cell and saw them pull the long steel sword and force his head on the block. He knew...yes, he knew that Almighty God was there welcoming him to the joy and peace of Eternity....where never again would he feel abandoned, hopeless or helplessly alone. This physical life is only temporary. We have a Savior who gives us eternity in God's home, Heaven.
Yes, I learned so much going through the trauma of brain cancer because I surrendered myself to His plan for me. It's amazing how our helpless moments can result in triumphant rewards!
Psalm 119:33-35 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
