Monday, January 21, 2019

Even Rogue Cells

Tomorrow (January 22nd) my step-dad is having brain surgery around noon to remove a tumor.  The tumor is likely either a lymphoma or a glioblastoma. 

Both of those are scary, especially the glioblastoma.

Since the news of his tumor I've been watching him and my mom and my whole family fight the fight of faith.  I've been doing it, too.  Surprisingly ( or maybe not surprisingly) we are experiencing more peace than I might have expected, but Philippians 4:7 promised us peace that passes all understanding so I shouldn't be surprised.

Last Wednesday I was helping teach a class on the book Astonished by God by John Piper.  We looked at chapter two which is about the glory of God.  I told the class that God is always all glorious and everything He does displays that glory.  Then in the middle of class I got a call saying that the neuro-surgeon thinks Larry's tumor is a glioblastoma, which is the worst case scenario.

God is always all glorious and everything He does displays that glory.  The purpose of EVERYTHING is to make much of God.  Really?  Yes, really, even if I don't understand how that's true right now.

Everything is for the displaying of God's glory.  Every person's life, every plant, every mountain, every stream, every star and even every seemingly rogue cell.  Even rogue cells.  Even rogue cells.  Even rogue cells.  I say that multiple times because I have to remind myself that everything God does is for His glory, even rogue cells. 

One of my pastors often says "God does everything for His glory and our good."  I need to preach that to myself right now.  


Believing this doesn't mean that we can't hate a piece of God's glorious puzzle, but it does mean we have to trust Him.  This is what faith is.

"Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
 the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all the people will see it together." Isaiah 40:4-5a

Some day we'll understand how this is all for the glory of God, but for now we trust that it is and yearn for Isaiah 40:4-5 and cry "How long, Oh LORD" today.


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