We all know friends and family who have suffered from cancer. In fact, It seems as if every family has a victim of cancer. Is cancer something that has just appeared in the last 50 or so years or was it always there and not identified. But we are all experiencing the physical pain, the emotional upheaval of the effects of a cancer diagnosis.
I have a friend who has struggled through four different cancer diagnosis: colon, skin, breast and lymph node and miraculously survived. Her testimony is impressive. "I think of my miracles as blessings. God still has a plan for me. I do small things like hang out my seed bell for His sparrows, or greet someone in the hall with a smile, or maybe just a short conversation in the grocery aisle with someone who is lonely. Who knows where we can a blessing? I'm too old for big things but I do so enjoy the small things life has to offer."
We hear of many miraculous healings from cancer but also many tragic deaths. Fortunately, there have been great strides made in cancer research. As we all just read in the news recently "researches reported the largest one-year decline in the US cancer death rate. a drop they credited to advance in lung-tumor treatments." We rejoice at that news. But we find ourselves still asking the question, "Why, Lord, must we suffer so?"
Medical advances have presented many amazing solutions to old age problems including joint replacements, medications and elective surgeries. Does it help? In some cases, yes. But in many cases senior citizens have more pain and more discomfort. And we wonder. Why, in our advancing age are we facing so many physical and mental challenges? Well, that's part of aging. Our bodies are deteriorating.
But there's another factor that adds to the problem. There is an enemy that exists in our world and he is after every human creature. His name, of course, is Satan, Lucifer, devil. He is the fallen angel that wanted to be greater than God Almighty. We can read about him in Genesis (as the serpent), Job (1:6-12), Isaiah (especially 14:12-15) and throughout the New Testament. Satan still exists today in all his malevolent spiritual power. As we are warned in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." Yes, we are in a spiritual battle and the Lord is more powerful than the devil. As we age and become physically weaker, we are prone to this 'roaring lion' who prowls around us and probably laughs with glee as he sees before him a weak, defenseless, hurting elderly person.
Let me give you a personal example. As many of you know, I was suddenly stricken in July, 2010 at age 74, with CNS lymphoma, a rare, aggressive, lethal cancer of the brain. The oncologist told me on July 6, 2010, I had only seven weeks to live. I was not in pain, but I was confused, depressed and worried. Healthy Janet? How could this happen to me? And then I remembered that on May 26, in the middle of the night, I had a vision of Jesus telling me I "would be healed". I wasn't even sick then! As I staggered around trying to alleviate my stress, I constantly experienced a dark cloud approaching me with tentacles trying to grab me. Finally, one night I began to realize this must be Satan trying to attack me. I said, "Satan, why are you trying to get me? I'm just an old woman. I'm not a famous evangelist. Why do you want me?" Then the light dawned on me. Satan wants everyone. When we are physically weak it's hard to fight and Satan knows that. I was blessed because as I felt Satan's claws, I felt the loving arms of Jesus surrounding me, holding me, protecting me and I knew I was safe, and most important, I was healed.
Now as I think about growing older, weaker, disintegrating, finally turning to dust and death, I am assured that my faith in Jesus my Lord will give me sustenance, reassurance and resurrection so there is nothing to fear.
