Easter 2015 -- A Death Sentence?

It’s Easter 2015. Much has happened in the first three months of this year . . . many unwanted things.

On January 7^th, my eye started swelling. On January 16^th, I saw the doctor and an MRI was recommended. On January 23^rd, I had an MRI that sent me to the hospital because of an “infection” it showed that was touching the brain. On January 29^th, a PICC line was inserted to treat me with IV antibiotics for six weeks. On March 11^th, an MRI showed no improvement of my infection. On March 17^th, a craniotomy was performed to biopsy the area above my left eye. The initial suspicion was a 50/50 chance of infection vs. cancer. On March 24^th, I heard the words “high probability of malignancy” for the first time. On March 25^th, my diagnosis was made official: I have Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

As I face what the future holds for me now, there are days when my mind wanders down the terminal path, that perhaps this is not curable. I don’t dwell there, but I can’t help but see that as a potential destination on my roadmap. Perhaps this is a death sentence.

Today, as I reflect on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I remember that we have all been given a death sentence. We have all been born separated from relationship with God the Father. We are all God’s creation, but we are not all His children. We are spiritually dead in our sins, and we would remain that way without a Savior to rescue us. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

For me physically, with the wisdom of doctors and the advances in medicine, my cancer diagnosis may not lead to death, but there is no guarantee. No one can take my place to remove the consequence of this growth, and none of those doctors love me enough to do that, even if they could.

For me spiritually, there is no doubt that my prognosis would be death, EXCEPT that Jesus COULD and DID take my place. Because of His love and mercy, He willingly took the cancer of sin that had killed me spiritually and put it on Himself, and He breathed His breath of life into me as He died the death I deserved (Ephesians 2:4-10). He CURED me! I am no longer sick, and there is no death sentence for me!

My prayer this Easter Sunday is that all of you will recognize the proper diagnosis in your own lives. No biopsy will show you the condition of your heart, but rest assured, your condition is terminal if He has not already cured you! There is no program, medicine, regimen, diet, or human relationship that can change your prognosis. There is only One way to be cured, and that is through the free gift of a selfless, humble, powerful, sinless Savior. He’s offering you a cure today! If you have not already been cured, I hope today is the day you receive a life sentence in place of your death sentence!

He is risen!