Don’t Waste Your Cancer – Look it in the Face

IMG_1098I was recently given a little booklet entitled “Don’t Waste Your Cancer” by John Piper. Although my style and perspective is different, it gave me some good thoughts to chew on so I thought I would look at each one with you and we can chew together.

#1 – We waste our cancer if we don’t hear in our own groaning the hope-filled labor pains of a fallen world.

He goes on to say, “Labor pains mean that something wonderful is coming. We will waste our cancer if we don’t hear in our own groan ins the labor pains of the new creation.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Anyone who knows me knows that I have embraced my cancer. It is a part of my life. I talk about it almost as much as I talk about my children. It is part of life…my life.

I talk about it because death is coming, for me as well as all of us. It was not the original plan of creation. God created man “in our image,” the image of an eternal God. But sin, rebellion from dependency on God, changed our character forever. We long for oneness with God and do our best to find it in nature and relationships here on earth. We suffer the pains of a fallen world.

And those who know me know I am not afraid of death. I do believe something wonderful is coming. I know some people have written detailed versions of heaven, and some even claim to have been there. I think I would rather be surprised. What I do know is that God is there without the “falleness” we have known here on earth. I can’t wait to see what that looks like!

And when I talk to others who are not followers of Jesus, they talk of death as sleep or nothingness. Nothing isn’t bad if you are not even aware of it. But it’s a little hard to find “hope” in it. I think I’ll stick to my faith.

I think Dr. Piper is making the point that we waste our cancer if we don’t look it in the face and call it what it is. It’s part of this fallen world. It’s part of life as much as death and suffering are a part of life. We try to avoid, but it’s always there in the end. And if we don’t grasp it and take it to ourself, what God wants to do in our life is wasted.

What are your thoughts? Do you know someone with cancer? Comment and I’ll pray for them. You might want to send them a link to this site if you think it would be helpful. 

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2 Responses to Don’t Waste Your Cancer – Look it in the Face

  1. Joanna Adicks Wallace says:

    Thanks, Maggie. Great perspective. Will ponder on it. Love to you.

  2. Carol Culbertson says:

    Hi Maggie, thank you for sharing. I know people in my family who are afraid of death and your words gave me ideas of how I might be able to share hope with them.

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