Psalms 103-104
1 Corinthians 2
“Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them….‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
Early on in my ministry, when I (Sandra Ryan) was serving in Russia, I had the privilege of serving in a children’s hospital. One day, I was contacted by a doctor in the hospital to visit one of the patients. The patient’s name was Oleg, an 11-year old boy with fourth stage cancer. Oleg had become so despairing that he did not want to talk to anyone and did not want anyone to visit him anymore.
When I went to visit Oleg, I knocked on his door, opened it up a crack and saw the darkness. When my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw Oleg lying on his bed. “Get out. I don’t want to talk,” said Oleg. From his tone, he was clearly angry. I then told him, “Okay, but what if I promise not to talk. Can I just come in and sit?” Oleg was silent, then he mumbled, “I don’t care. I just don’t want to talk.” I stepped into the room and sat in darkness beside Oleg; he did not say a word and neither did I. Day after day, I sat in darkness with Oleg and felt the anger and the despair of this young boy who did not know what to do as he was looking for some kind of hope for his situation.
After about two weeks, Oleg asked, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?” I responded, “I don’t understand.” He said, “Everybody is afraid of me. My mom comes in and she just starts to cry every time she sees me. The doctors come in and they just talk in whispers and then they rush out of the room. Why aren’t you afraid of me?” I answered, “Oleg, people aren’t afraid of you. They are afraid of sickness. They are afraid of dying.” Oleg then said, “Aren’t you afraid of sickness and dying?” I told him, “Sometimes. But then, I remember that I don’t have to be. I know that you don’t have to be either because sickness and dying do not get the last word; they do not win here. Oleg, I know it feels like they are winning, but they don’t win. To do this, you are going to have to let go of the anger and put your trust in Jesus because He is the only One who can help you overcome this sickness and this dying.”
Sickness and dying do not have the last word in Jesus Christ who promises us that “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Fairest Lord Jesus, what a comfort to know that sickness and dying do not have the last word for those whose hope is in You. I place my faith, hope and trust in You alone. Thank You, Lord.
1 Corinthians 2
“Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them….‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
Early on in my ministry, when I (Sandra Ryan) was serving in Russia, I had the privilege of serving in a children’s hospital. One day, I was contacted by a doctor in the hospital to visit one of the patients. The patient’s name was Oleg, an 11-year old boy with fourth stage cancer. Oleg had become so despairing that he did not want to talk to anyone and did not want anyone to visit him anymore.
When I went to visit Oleg, I knocked on his door, opened it up a crack and saw the darkness. When my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw Oleg lying on his bed. “Get out. I don’t want to talk,” said Oleg. From his tone, he was clearly angry. I then told him, “Okay, but what if I promise not to talk. Can I just come in and sit?” Oleg was silent, then he mumbled, “I don’t care. I just don’t want to talk.” I stepped into the room and sat in darkness beside Oleg; he did not say a word and neither did I. Day after day, I sat in darkness with Oleg and felt the anger and the despair of this young boy who did not know what to do as he was looking for some kind of hope for his situation.
After about two weeks, Oleg asked, “Why aren’t you afraid of me?” I responded, “I don’t understand.” He said, “Everybody is afraid of me. My mom comes in and she just starts to cry every time she sees me. The doctors come in and they just talk in whispers and then they rush out of the room. Why aren’t you afraid of me?” I answered, “Oleg, people aren’t afraid of you. They are afraid of sickness. They are afraid of dying.” Oleg then said, “Aren’t you afraid of sickness and dying?” I told him, “Sometimes. But then, I remember that I don’t have to be. I know that you don’t have to be either because sickness and dying do not get the last word; they do not win here. Oleg, I know it feels like they are winning, but they don’t win. To do this, you are going to have to let go of the anger and put your trust in Jesus because He is the only One who can help you overcome this sickness and this dying.”
Sickness and dying do not have the last word in Jesus Christ who promises us that “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Fairest Lord Jesus, what a comfort to know that sickness and dying do not have the last word for those whose hope is in You. I place my faith, hope and trust in You alone. Thank You, Lord.
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