Do not be afraid. Do not even be afraid of cancer. Instead, focus on treasures in Heaven. I went to my oncologist yesterday. It’s time to begin radiation treatment. Now, today, I’m going to write from the point of view of the man in the image below. Climbing stairs into the clouds. Judgment time. Will he be told he will enter Heaven? Or will he be sent to the other place?
Do not be afraid, focus on treasures in Heaven is article #11 in the series: Do not waste your cancer. Click button to view titles for entire series
No, I’m not on death’s door.
Although, one day, we’ll all be there.
And it’s good to plan ahead.
I know many people don’t believe in God. Many either don’t believe in Heaven or have a warped view of Heaven.
My view comes from the Bible. Not from popular culture. Not from wishes and hopes.
That view says we’ll all face God after we pass away. And so, in some form or another, figuratively speaking, we’ll make the walk that man in the image is making. Alone. We can’t take anything with us. Or bring anyone with us. Or can we? More on that thought later.
And so, the question today, when that time comes for me, how do I see my walk? And how does that expectation affect the way I view my latest cancer news?
Should I be afraid?
As I said, I saw my oncologist yesterday. She told me she’ll be meeting with a colleague, a radiation oncologist who I’ve already seen once. At that time, he said there wasn’t enough cancer present, based on blood tests, for him to do radiation treatment.
Did God Forsake You If Cancer Surgery Isn’t 100% Successful?
Never will I leave you or forsake you. I suppose pretty much every Christian knows that line. Or something like it, depending on which translation you read. It’s from God. But do we know where it comes from? And of course, the ultimate questions related to that line – do we believe God will never forsake us and do we live like we believe it? And for today’s topic, did God forsake you if cancer surgery isn’t 100% successful?
If you’ve read earlier entries in this series, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three+ years ago. Was put on active surveillance for a while. Suddenly, surprisingly, they learned the cancer was more widespread and more aggressive than was previously thought. Time for surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery did not remove all of the cancer cells. Back to surveillance. Now, there’s almost certainly enough to begin radiation treatment. I’ll find out for sure next month.
Should I be afraid?
It wasn’t that many years ago I would’ve been very afraid. Even though I know full well that, in the Bible, God tells us over and over again, do not be afraid.
It’s natural to be afraid. Especially with “The Big C”. Whether it’s us or a friend/loved one, cancer invokes fear.
Can we not be afraid?
As the inset above asks, do we believe God will never forsake us and do we live like we believe it?
I used to think God was doing all sorts of things to me. And they weren’t good things. If anything will bring about fear, it’s that kind of thinking.
I was expecting this result. Whether it would be yesterday, or maybe even years from now, it was inevitable. At some point, it had to come. Fear of the unknown is another one of those things that’s likely to bring out fear.
As regular readers will know, I have had problems with anxiety and especially depression for as long as I can remember. There’s also a verse where Jesus tells us, do not be afraid, that I remember from way back in grade school.
The question is – which of those two things will win out?
Two key passages
There are two passages for background today.
Do not be afraid.
The first is one of two that I remember from when I was in grade school. Forced to go to church by my parents.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Those were promises I really hung onto. Even when I was mad at God, it was largely because I thought He wasn’t fulfilling the two passages from years ago. Oddly enough, one of the sources from which I wanted peace and no more fear was my parents.
I’ll include the rest of the passage in a moment. I’ll also explain why I’m waiting.
Treasures in Heaven
The second passage is one I’ve come to understand more these last several years. Here it is, again with no context.
Mt 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
The problem with “do not be afraid”
There’s a bit of a problem with just telling someone, “do not be afraid”. Words are easy. Do not be afraid is much easier said than done.
What’s missing when someone says, do not be afraid?
- A reason to fear not.
- Something to replace the fear.
- Some help with overcoming the fear.
How’s that for starters?
Well, that’s the reason I didn’t give you the context for the two passages which include the two verses above. So let’s do that now.
Do not be afraid, with context
We’ll see, this is about a whole lot more than just saying don’t be afraid.
Jesus Promises The Holy Spirit
Jn 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Jn 14:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jn 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Jn 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jn 14:28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.”
Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God. The mind of Christ. The third member of the Trinity of our one true God.
Clearly, Jesus isn’t just spewing some words. He’s giving us the One who allows us to accomplish that task of not being afraid. No matter what’s happening. And all we need to do is love and follow Jesus.
Coincidentally, and rather paradoxically, loving and following Jesus will actually bring us even more times when we’re likely to be afraid. But then, as we grow in our faith/love, we really are better able to not only survive, but to thrive, in those troublesome times when we rely on Him more and more.
Do not be afraid, with context
This next passage completes the three missing things when someone just tells us to not be afraid.
Treasures in Heaven
6:22, 23 pp — Lk 11:34-36
Mt 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mt 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Mt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Now we have something to do. Something to take our mind off the fear. A purpose. Not only for our life, but maybe even for the things which have, so far, been leading us into fear.
I used to think of treasures in terms of the rewards that the New Testament speaks of. But I feel like that’s thinking too small. Even, if I may say it, too selfish.
Why are we here?
Here’s what I mean, especially regarding the too selfish comment. Think about it. Do you believe rewards are there for us as something like a challenge to get as many as possible? To be the G.O.A.T.? As in the Greatest Of All Time? If so, think again.
The Request of James and John
10:35-45 pp — Mt 20:20-28
Mk 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
Mk 10:36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
Mk 10:37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Mk 10:38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
Mk 10:39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
Mk 10:41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
No – we aren’t going to be on either side of Jesus. And no, we certainly aren’t Jesus. However, we are supposed to be transformed. To become more Christ-like. And to that end, we should know something about what Jesus was really like. And listen to the things He told His disciples. After all, we are the disciples of today!
Should we give up our life like Jesus did?
Should we give up our life like Jesus did? Uh – yes. But in a different way. Remember something else Jesus said.
The Vine and the Branches
Jn 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Jn 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Jn 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
As usual, the entire passage is there for context. However, pay special attention to this portion:
Jn 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Here’s the flow:
The short answer is that it means we give up our own desires and plans for our life – and follow God’s desires and plans for our life instead. And His desire is for us to help bring others to Him. To help them enjoy the same things we do as children of God. To help save their souls.
- Love-
- The Father loves Jesus
- Jesus loves us
- we are to remain in His love
- Remaining in that love
- Jesus obeys the Father and remains in His love
- We should obey Jesus and remain in His love
- This is (at least part of) having complete joy (God’s kind of joy) in this life
- Jesus – love each other
- Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- We are Jesus’ friends if we do what He commands.
The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes could be described today as Jesus’ manifesto on Christianity. They’re things we need to constantly be cycling through, ever growing in our faith. When we do that, each time through, we learn more, grow more, and become more Christ-like.
Question: Do we really believe that Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends just happens to be thrown in there in the middle of all those statements about love and obeying Jesus? I don’t. I think laying down our life is essential. But then, the deeper question is, what does that he lay down his life for his friends actually mean, in this context?
The long answer can be seen in the Beatitudes. This particular idea is mentioned in Blessed are those who are persecuted. However, to really see how it all happens, I invite you to check out the series.
So no, we don’t give our life like Jesus did. But we do give our life for Jesus. Which means we give our life to serve others, and that service is via Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Treasures in Heaven, with context – again
And that brings us back to treasures in Heaven – again.
Let’s look at one verse. One we like to think only refers to money.
Mt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
But it’s not just about money, is it?
We often don’t get that quote about money quite right either. We tend to think it says that money is the root of all evil. But that’s not what was written. Here’s the whole thing, with context.
Love of Money
1Ti 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Yes – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It’s not the money, it’s the love of money.
And in the same way, it’s the love of ourselves, our own selfish goals, that cause problems for us. Because when we follow our own way, we pit ourselves against God. We cannot serve both. We must be willing to give up our plans to accomplish God’s plans.
Conclusion – Do not be afraid, focus on treasures in Heaven
Back to the beginning.
Do not be afraid. Do not even be afraid of cancer. Instead, focus on treasures in Heaven. I went to my oncologist yesterday. It’s time to begin radiation treatment. Now, today, I’m going to write from the point of view of the man in the image below. Climbing stairs into the clouds. Judgment time. Will he be told he will enter Heaven? Or will he be sent to the other place?
So, I’m the guy in the picture. Some time in the future. And don’t forget, one day that’ll be you too.
I’m on the way to Heaven. For judgment. I take nothing with me. But I’m not alone. I have the Holy Spirit with me. Not something physical. But spiritual. Not “spiritual but not religious”, as people like to say today. No – the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Spirit. The Spirit of God. The mind of Christ.
And guess who’s waiting for me? The One who’s going to judge me? It’s Jesus. Jesus, whose Spirit I’ve tried to keep with me these last twenty years. And whose Spirit I’ve wanted ever since I was a little kid. Who I’ve made a U-turn in my life for.
So why should I worry? There’s nothing to be afraid of.
And even now, these last so many years, the joy that has come from following His plans is so much greater than my path would have brought me, So much more than I could ever have imagined or believed possible.
Why? Because the focus on following Jesus takes away the fear. And following that path will bring some rewards, although I don’t know what kind. But the rewards aren’t why I do this. No. I do this for Jesus – and for you.
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay