Biblical Hope EQUALS Certainty

Life can be crazy sometimes. That is a big understatement for most of us. I have heard it said that we are either going into a storm, in a storm, or getting out of a storm. That's how it has felt for us.

A month ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Seemingly out of nowhere my body flipped a switch and started attacking my pancreas. From my vantage point this is bad. As a result, I didn't go to Papua New Guinea, I didn't get to participate in training pastors, or help encourage the missionary family there. Just doctors visits and shots, and wondering if I can eat "Brita bread" and chocolate chip cookies ever again (which thankfully I can, in moderation).  Why this disease? Why now? Why in the middle of mission training? 

After multiple doctor appointments, I was able to join Brita and the kids in Montana. They had been given tickets to stay with her parents while I was supposed to be out of the country for the Papua New Guinea trip.  I was so thankful to be back to reassure my parents and family, in particular, that I'm OK.  It was a great week and a half and we were thankful to spend the time with family and a few friends.  The trip home had Brita and the kids leaving Bozeman the same time as myself, but on different planes; Brita and the kids to Denver and me to Minneapolis. I was forced to fly by myself while Brita had all four kids to keep her company :)

The flight to Harlingen was uneventful and I had an hour to get home and pick Brita and the kids up at the Brownsville airport once I landed.  I had just taken a few steps off the plane when I got a call from my mom, letting me know that a routine heart treadmill test had revealed blockage in my dad's heart. The doctors immediately scheduled a cath to insert a stint in his heart if needed.  During that procedure they discovered the blockage was very bad and in the most difficult and largest artery going to the heart.  They immediately stopped the procedure and scheduled a quadruple bypass surgery two days later. What?!  My dad is 58! He works outside and is in good shape! He could have a massive, fatal heart heart attack at any moment?!

My head was swirling with questions and then I heard muffled voices and the phone when silent. I couldn't get an answer from my Mom and I was in the way of busy passengers trying to get out of the terminal.  A few minutes later my sister called very scared. Apparently as my sister was talking to my dad, he suddenly lost consciousness and had a mild seizure.  My mom had dropped the phone and ran to be with him.  The nurses called a code blue and every doctor from that floor came to revive him. Thankfully they did revive him and it sounded like a vein was pinched causing him to faint. Nevertheless it made all of us think it was his last breath. 

I flew to Billings, Montana the next day to be with my mom and dad during and after the surgery. By God's grace dad made it through the surgery and was discharged 5 days after surgery.

All this to say that in the last month we have been in a storm of sorts. God provides different types and intensities of storms as He sees fit. Spending five days in a hospital watching and waiting has been good for me. I was reminded what this world offers us and promises us and sitting in the hospital I see some of those promises exposed as the lies they really are. 

• This life will last. 

• You will live content if you have enough. 

• Money, insurance, and possessions will give you peace. 

• If you work hard, you can enjoy life during retirement. 

• You deserve it. 

• Make youth last. 

• Your health is the most important thing in the world. 

• You're strong and if you stay positive you can conquer anything.  

• Believe in yourself. 

• TV can numb the pain. 

• Affliction won't happen to you. That's for "other" people. 

• You will always have friends and family around you. 

• We can hope for good to come.  We can knock on wood.

This is the hope offered by the world. 

BUT the Word of God says and promises something different.

• This life is a vapor, a puff of smoke. 

• We are dying. We have sinned and the result is death and dying, pain and suffering. 

• There is nothing we can do to save our lives. 

• God sent Jesus to die for us, in our place so that we exchange our sin and death for His righteousness. 

• All who receive Jesus and believe in Him will be children of God. He will give peace and joy and abundant life forever. 

• Trials will come to those who love Jesus and those who don't. All of those trials will work for your ultimate good if you love Jesus. 

• When I am weak, then I see that I'm not God. 

• When I am weak I see that Gods power is shown more brightly. He gets the glory and I get the joy and peace. 

• You will live forever. 

• In Christ, your bodies will be made new. 

• Jesus will never leave you, will never be too busy to come to your hospital room, will never forget about you. He will be there in the pain and the loneliness when friends and family are gone.

Hope in Jesus is certainty.  It will happen.  When you see the word hope in the Bible it means certainty.  It's not wishful thinking.  It's as certain as the sun coming up, but more than that.  It's a great promise and a great comfort for those who know Jesus.

So take comfort in Jesus!  Every promise of God is yes in Him.  Whether we are going into the storm, seasick in the midst of the storm, or battered and beat up coming out of the storm, Jesus is the anchor for our soul!

Preparing for battle!

Fun in Montana!