Last week I was sick.
Nothing serious. One of those things we all have to deal with from time
to time, a sore throat and headache with a sinus infection that in a few days
threatened to move into my chest. After
hacking and coughing my way through a few fitful nights, I found myself wishing
I could just lie down, get a good night’s sleep and wake up well. My temporary
illness soon passed, but it made me reflect on those who face far more serious
conditions, whose illnesses are terminal.
It made me think of my friend, Mike Toby who served as
pastor of the First Baptist Church, Woodway for thirty-five years. In 2012 Mike woke up on a Sunday morning to
discover his left hand numb. He preached
anyway. The next week the doctors
determined that he was suffering from a cancer in the brain and gave him three
to six months to live. Mike made a video
for his congregation in which he candidly spoke about his illness and his
faith. Here’s what he said:
“I didn’t want to spend one day trying to fight off the
inevitable. When I was seven years old I gave my heart to Jesus and became a
citizen of the Kingdom of God. That’s where I know that I will spend eternity.
My faith is rock solid in Jesus Christ. I
know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I have
been the recipient of unbelievable grace and blessing. Every day has been full.
…
It was in the
spring that the Lord took me to the Psalms and the verse jumped out to me,
“Lord teach me to number my days that I may present to you a heart of
wisdom.” I don’t think I had a clue how
much that would come to mean to me. Clearly to number your days has taken on a
real depth of meaning to me. The other verse that has meant a lot to me is “We
must work while it is day. Night is coming when no man can work.” For my entire life, as my family will attest,
I have woken up about 3:30 in the morning and I have woken up with joy. I have woken up ready to go to work. And I
have enjoyed working all day long. And
when the sun came down I was ready to put my head on the pillow and said,
‘Lord, thank you for a great day!’ So, I feel like I am able to say ‘I have
fought the good fight. I have finished
the course and I am absolutely confident that you have a crown awaiting for me,
and not for me only, but everyone else who has shared that journey in life.’ I
look forward to seeing my Savior and to share that homecoming. The healing
comes when I am released into the arms of my Savior.”
That day for Mike came on December 29, 2012.
Many are facing difficult illnesses like Mike Toby faced. It is important for all of us that we number
our days, that we live with confidence in the eternal life that God has offered
in His Son, Jesus Christ knowing that one day we will wake up well and whole
with all those who love His appearing.
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