Dr. Kent Brantley, the
physician serving in Liberia with Samaritan’s Purse who nearly died after
becoming infected with the Ebola virus, was interviewed on NBC TV on Friday
evening.
(Watch it here) This skilled doctor and dedicated Christian tells a moving story. He ministered to dozens of dying people, giving them love and dignity as they died, trying to keep the virus from spreading and then – woke up one morning in July to realize he was sick. Did he rail at God for allowing his illness? Did he feel like the Lord has failed him? No. He chose faith – to trust God regardless of life or death. By the grace of God and heroic efforts of modern medicine he did not die. His gentle demeanor and deep faith inspired me as I watched the interview. Clearly this man has a hope that reaches beyond the grave!
(Watch it here) This skilled doctor and dedicated Christian tells a moving story. He ministered to dozens of dying people, giving them love and dignity as they died, trying to keep the virus from spreading and then – woke up one morning in July to realize he was sick. Did he rail at God for allowing his illness? Did he feel like the Lord has failed him? No. He chose faith – to trust God regardless of life or death. By the grace of God and heroic efforts of modern medicine he did not die. His gentle demeanor and deep faith inspired me as I watched the interview. Clearly this man has a hope that reaches beyond the grave!
Dr. Brantley lives with a
divine call. He could be a physician in some suburb of America, making a
comfortable living. Instead, he lives far from home, at risk from disease,
without financial rewards. Why? He knows Heaven is real and that his true
home is not this world!
Christian, what reward do you
desire most? Wealth? Recognition? Respect? Pleasure? There is nothing
wrong with enjoying a good life! Ecclesiastes recommends that we
enjoy the ‘fruit of our labor,’ that we savor life. But, to live today to
the full demands we know Heaven waits for us all. In the 11th
chapter of Hebrews, there are faith stories of the heroes of the Bible. The
writer celebrates their victories. The chapter closes with a sobering
passage: Some " were too good for this world, wandering over
deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these
people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them
received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for
us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews
11:38-40, NLT)
But all, those who were
healed, who conquered their foes, as well those who died waiting in hope, share
a common call with us: "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers
who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get
on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat,
no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this
race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was
headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything
along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of
honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go
over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed
through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! " (Hebrews
12:1-3, The Message)
I want to finish the race
well! As we live our faith, run this race, we can get distracted, discouraged,
or disillusioned- losing sight of the finish line and dropping out. Some quit
on God altogether like Paul’s friend Demas who abandoned the faith because “he
loved this present world.” Others allow themselves to be compromised
by sin, deceived by the allure of rewards, tangible and present. The only
way to stay in the race is to ‘keep your eyes on Jesus.’
Dr. Brantley thought that he
was going to cross the finish line earlier than he had planned, but God chose
to keep him in the race. Regardless of the length of our life here on
this earth – be it 40, 70, or 90 years – it is nothing in light of
Eternity.
Here is the word from the
Word. Do you believe it? "For our dying bodies must be transformed into
bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal
bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will
never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in
victory." (1 Corinthians 15:53-54, NLT) "So, my dear
brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically
for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
(1 Corinthians 15:58, NLT)
God, I want to finish the
race well! And, we will – by His grace!
________________
Sing The Wondrous Love Of
Jesus (Heavenwards)
Sing the wondrous love of
Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His
grace,
In the mansions -bright
and blessed-
He'll prepare for us a
place.
While we walk the pilgrim
pathway,
Clouds will overspread the
sky.
But, when trav'ling days
are over,
Not a shadow not a sigh.
Let us then be true and
faithful,
Trusting, serving ev'ry
day.
Just one glimpse of Him in
glory,
Will the toils of life
repay.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing
that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the
victory!
Eliza Edmunds Stites Hewitt |
Emily Divine Wilson
© Words: Public Domain
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