What Cancer Cannot Do
John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bethehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1980, is a respected theologian and author. He is credited with writing a powerful piece entitled What Cancer Cannot Do. Pastor Piper understands cancer because he himself is a cancer survivor. This is what he wrote:
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot erase memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot steal eternal life.
It cannot conquer the Spirit.
Overcoming is the ability to get the better of something;to gain superiority over it; or even more simply stated - to win. After meditating on John Piper's thoughts I realize that it is possible to substitute many other words in place of the word "Cancer." Other dreadful words come to mind like "pain", "loss", even "change" or "transition." It is all about where I put my focus when I am in a season described by these words.
We are familiar with James 1:2-4 in the ESV version, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The Message offers a fresh perspective, Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
Even though the temptation is great to focus on the fearsome thing, the truth is that I will lack nothing when I remain steadfast under pressure. Most importantly, nothing of lasting value will be ever be compromised. I will win in the end.
