‘Take my yoke upon you and learn
from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’Matthew 11:29-30
When you are a cancer patient such as Pat, my wife,
you carry a concern, a burden, that weighs heavy on you. This burden is also carried by the whole family and close friends.
Life is especially overwhelming for Pat this past year. But I notice that
throughout the year, while receiving many cycles of chemotherapy and
stem cells transplants; despite being admitted to hospital for five times and
attending outpatient treatments about 2-3 times a week, Pat continues to be in
high spirits, confident that the Lord Jesus will take care of her.
In these trying periods, Pat learned to transfer and
share her burdens with Jesus, her Lord and Saviour.
‘Give your
burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly
to slip and fall.’ Psalm 55:22
Pat, the family and friends have learnt to harness ourselves to the ‘yoke’ of Christ
Farmers used a wooden yoke to strap the shoulders of two
animals such as oxen or horses together so that they could combine strength to
pull a load that would have been too much for one animal to carry.
Jesus Christ assures us that His yoke is easy. We can only surmise that He is taking on the heavier lifting; He takes on
the larger share of the load. That way we lift off our burdens and give it to the Lord and Christ lifts it off our shoulders.
In hitching our shoulders to the yoke of Christ we
learned:
To move in the same direction as Christ, to be
on the same path
Not to carry the whole burden ourselves but to
lean on Christ
Being closely yoke, we become refreshed and can
carry more than we ever thought we could.
That is why Saint Paul and all the early
followers of Christ can say, despite persecution and hardships, sometimes leading to martyrdom:
‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down but not destroyed.’ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Poor farmers often cannot afford oxen or horses; these farmers will yoke themselves to the plough to till the land. So when Jesus spoke of being yoked and carrying the weight upon His shoulders, His hearers in 1st Century Judea and Samaria, understood and emphatise completely. But Jesus meant that He carries the weight of the whole world not just a plough. He welcomes us who are burdened and heavy laden to be yoked to Him.
There is no problem too big God solve it. He will help us lift that burden. He will carry you.
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28
There is no problem too big God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it And there is no storm too dark God cannot calm it There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders I know my brother that He will carry you And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders I know my sister that He will carry you
‘For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my
hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not
be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is
God.’ Psalm 62:5-7
'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting' 1 Cor 15: 54b-55
Most human beings are gripped by the fear of death. Yet it is life's only certainty. The glib and witty American author, Mark Twain said, "This life is a losing proposition; nobody gets out of it alive." Death is the hallmark, the sure proof of our mortality. So why fear?
We fear the Pain of Death. We have watched some friends dying in pain, experiencing them suffer severe symptoms. Instinctively, we wish it not on ourselves.
We fear the Loss of Death. Some of us are so attached to the riches and wealth of materialism, that we cannot bear to lose them. We have become so acquainted to this world, our style of living, the worldly pleasures and comforts; we cannot part from them.
We fear the Separation of Death. Oftentimes we are not ready to leave family and friends. Husbands and wives fear being separated from one another. Children are not ready to leave parents and parents are not ready to let go, hoping to see their children and grandchildren grow.
We fear the Penalty of Death. Perhaps our greatest fear is of the divine judgement that many believe will follow. We are not ready, we are guilty of our sins. We may not have been reconciled with God our maker and so we hesitate, even resist, to be plunged into the unknown and face God.
Timothy Keller died on the 19 May 2023 after several years of fighting cancers, first the thyroid and later the pancreas. He has had much thought about the death and dying as a Pastor who sat at the bedside counselling many who faced imminent death. He has to live with his own personal experiences and fears facing death.
Keller wrote, "While people have many reactions to being in the presence of death, there two opposite mistakes we can make: One is to despair too much; the other is to shrug it off and not learn what we should from it. Neither will be of much benefit to you, so we must do what the Bible tells us to do in the face of death: We should grieve, yet we should have hope; we should wake up from our denial and discover a source of peace that will never leave us; and finally we should laugh and sing."
Keller preached a sermon on boldness in the face of death and recounted what (Ref 1) he learned after opening up his fears as he was rolled into the operating theatre. In that moment he realised the sheer magnitude of God's glory beyond the world of pain and suffering and cancer and death.
"One of the few times I needed courage, God was very happy to give it to me, and it was very nice. When I was going under, being wheeled in for my only cancer surgery — I had thyroid cancer years ago — I do remember (it was so nice) I suddenly had this sense that the world is wonderful and the universe is this big ball of the glory of God, and we’re just trapped in this little tiny speck of darkness. And even that’s going to be taken away eventually. Therefore, no matter what happens now, whatever happens with the surgery, I’m going to be all right. My family is going to be all right. The world is going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right. It was very nice to have a moment of courage."
As the Lord had comforted Timothy Keller, He will guide all who are suffering cancers and severe diseases; He holds us in the palm of His Hand.
'He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' 2 Tim 2:9-10
There are three promises in the verse above. Death has lost its sting. Why?
Salvation. Sin has no power over us. Christians have been reconciled with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
'We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sin' Romans 3:22-25 (NLT)
Grace. Grace is a gift from God which we do not merit nor deserve.
'But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when he raised Christ. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved.)' Ephesians 2:4-5
'God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9
Immortality. The assurance and evidence for the immortality of our bodies and souls is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like him, after dying we will be resurrected. Despite our frail frames and broken bodies, death is just but a transition to immortality.
'For our dying bodies will 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. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:53-55
'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23
Tim Keller wrote,
'When I got my cancer diagnosis, I had to look not only at my professed beliefs, which align with historical Protestant orthodoxy, but also at my actual understanding of God. Had it been shaped by my culture? Had I been slipping unconsciously into the supposition that God lived for me rather than I for him, that life should go well for me, that I knew better than God does how things should go? The answer was yes—to some degree. I found that to embrace God’s greatness, to say “Thy will be done,” was painful at first and then, perhaps counterintuitively, profoundly liberating.'
Realising these three promises will give us courage to face death. It will be liberating. Our Lord is 'Mighty to Save'
Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as You find me
With all my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
And now I surrender
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God (my God) is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King, Jesus
Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
In facing death, Timothy Keller wrote, “Real courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the presence of joy.”
Lionel
Ref 1: Growing My Faith in the Face of Death Timothy Keller 7 Mar 2021
'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord Your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.'Isaiah 43:2-3a
How many of us live as though we entirely depend on God, Day by Day? When you are a cancer patient or suffering from a severe illness, you will learn the meaning behind the phrase 'Living Day by Day in the Palm of God's Hand.' You live with uncertainty, the fluctuations of your blood counts, the up and downs of your energy levels, the vulnerability to infections, with fevers coming and going. You brace yourself for periods of recovery, remission and relapses
During these uncertain times, you will learn to rely on the grace of God, day by day; His mercy and protection. You are encouraged by friends and families praying for you daily; for that you are ever grateful.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.' Psalms 50:15
Living Day by Day dependent on the grace and mercy of God is experienced by the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt where they wandered for 40 years in the desert and wilderness. Throughout that period God provided them with manna from heaven but always just sufficient for the day.
'Then the Lord said to Moses, "I'm going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day.' Exodus 16:4a
God provides our Physical Needs day by day
Andrew Murray wrote, "Many a soul is disquieted with the thought as to how it will be able to gather and to keep the manna needed for all its years of travel through such a barren wilderness. It has never learnt what unspeakable comfort there is in the word: The day's portion for its day.Manna, as your food and strength, is given only by the day; faithfully to fill the present is your only security for the future. Accept, and enjoy, and fulfil with your whole heart the part you have this day to perform. His presence and grace enjoyed today will remove all doubt whether you can entrust the morrow to Him too."
Christians who live hand to mouth eking their daily living understand God's provision for our physical needs on a daily basis. Similarly those who are ill and recovering understand how God sustain their bodies on a daily basis.
God provides our Spiritual Needs day by day
When Jesus taught us to pray the Lord's prayer and one of the petitions is
'Give us today our daily bread.' Matthew 6:9
Although this phrase can also be taken to mean our daily physical subsistence, it is most likely that Jesus meant spiritual nourishment; our daily sustenance of our soul and spirit. And this is usually provided by the daily inspiration of God's Word. Jesus said
'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.' Matthew 4:4
Andrew Murray wrote, "As the lesson of the value and the work of the single day is being taken to heart, the learner is all unconsciously being led on to get the secret of day by day continually."
Day by day, God fulfills our spiritual needs, the bread that satisfies our spiritual needs.
God provides us our Spiritual Blessings day by day
Andrew Murray wrote, "We are so easily led to look at life as a great whole, and to neglect the little to-day, to forget that the single days do indeed make up the whole, and that the value of each single day depends on its influence on the whole. Each day of faithfulness brings a blessing for the next; and so the Christian life grows: as we give our whole heart to the work of each day."
We live day by day, one step at a time, exercising simple faith that God will provide just what we need, when we need it. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said,
'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?' Matthew 6:25
'And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was not dressed like one of these.' Matthew 6:28-29
Living 'Day by Day' in the palm of God's hand gives all living with cancer and illnesses daily blessings.
'So do not worry, saying,"What shall we eat?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after these things, and you heavenly Father knows that you need them.' Matthew 6:32
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.
Jesus said,
'So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.' Matthew 6:34 (NLT)
Be assured that God has you in the palm of His hand. Timothy Keller, who this year succumbed to pancreatic cancer, wrote, “The central basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.”
'I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber' Psalms 121:1-3
On 11 Mar 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the Corona Virus, COVID-19 infection a pandemic which affected many countries and continents. Many are afraid to contract the virus. Although for the most parts, the disease is quite mild, mortality rate is significant in older people who have underlying health concerns. The death rates among the elderly in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy are extremely high. The virus is highly contagious and some countries resorted to closure of schools, large public events and curtailed travel. It may even derail the Olympic Games to be held in Japan later this year. Several churches in Singapore and other countries are no longer meeting but virtually beam the worship services to parishioners through the Internet.
In times like these, people of all faiths turn to prayer. Christians pray, expectantly, that God will answer just as the Psalmist declared in Psalms 121. This assurance of help from God is the cornerstone for our confidence which allows us to live a full life even in periods of adversity. There is a favourite anthem of the Charis Methodist Church Choir. Noel Ong, who helps select songs for the choir wrote, "On Path to Answered Prayer'is a beautiful and touching piece that Heidi Fuller wrote after going through much trial and seeming unanswered prayer, as well as helping a close friend through similar issues. Their specific circumstances were different, but the underlying issues of faith in God, whether he hears and answers prayer, and waiting for God's timing and plan, were underlying both their journeys. Indeed, they underlie the journeys that each one of us Christians would take in our respective life journeys. Indeed, we can be encouraged through the message of this song because God brings amazing things through the trials of life and we need to 'learn to trust Him as you (we) travel on the path to answered prayer." My favourite phrase in this song is "Out of chaos comes a calm". It assures me that the COVID-19 pandemic will dissipate, this world will return to normal, the economic recession will pass and God will restore the earth.
"Have you ever wondered if your prayers are really heard?
Why is your path so lonely if God listens to each word?
When answers seem so distant through years of faithful pleas.
Still your Guide is right beside you each moment on your knees.
In the wilderness He’s working, in the dark, do not despair.
In the storms, He’s sanctifying, in the thunder He is there!
Out of valleys, He gives vict’ries, out of chaos, comes a calm.
Out of testing, He brings triumph, out of sorrow, comes a song.
There comes a song.
So find power in His promise, though at times not understood,
as you love the God who leads you He will guide your paths to good.
Though there’s weeping in the waiting, in the morning, joy is there.
Learn to trust Him as you travel, learn to trust Him as you travel,
learn to trust Him as you travel on the path to answered prayer.
He answers prayer."
It is this song that the chairperson of our choir, Raymond Chiang clung to as he lived through cancer affecting his health. He prayed for healing of a colon cancer he suffered which had spread to his liver and subsequently he lived a normal and active life through two surgeries and chemotherapy. Click to hear, Raymond's encouraging testimony, how God gave him the faith to overcome his illness.
Raymond spoke about trusting God and praying for healing. After a colectomy, it was found a year later, that there was a secondary to the liver. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour in the liver. After the surgery, the surgeon asked whether he had undergone chemotherapy prior because 70% of the tumour cells from the liver was found to be not viable on the biopsy. Raymond answered negatively which surprised the surgeon. When informed, the oncologist replied, "A supernatural force is at work here". Today Raymond has completed the post-surgery chemotherapy and he is hale and hearty. The response to the corona virus pandemic in almost every country, underlies the innate fear and panic in many people, they run to the supermarkets and pharmacies to hoard daily essentials. People were jostling for rice and canned food, masks and alcohol wipes and even toilet paper to the point where nothing was available on the shelves and the national stockpiles were depleted. Fear and panic are not the ways we should confront the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic; instead of fear there should be faith and instead of panic there should be prayer. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Lionel
