A friend called me while I was driving on a busy highway in Dallas. I pulled over and parked near a gas station because I could tell she was not doing well based on the tone in her voice. She said they found a lump in her breast. Her whole life flooded into her thoughts both past and future. What if I die?
She's young and never thought she could be dealing with a potential fight with cancer. She... told me they were going to test her the following day to see if it was benign or not. The anxiety in her voice was thick. I usually can talk and talk, but I was at a loss for words. I didn't know how to comfort her. I didn't want silence between us.
I stared at the digital sign that displayed gas prices. It read,"3.17."
Please God give me the words! At that very moment the price changed in front of my eyes and so did the silence. It now read,"3.16." Literally, He gave me a sign. Wow.
It all came to me. John 3:16. I told her God gave His only begotten son so that we may have eternal life. ETERNAL LIFE. Why must we be so scared when disease and illness come knocking at our door? Young or old. He tells us not to fear. He won't give us anything we can't handle. I understand our human flesh falls victim to negative thoughts, anxiety and we fear the unknown. It is frightening to think we might have a serious disease that could lead to death. But...We will not perish. I didn't tell her, "Don't worry you don't have cancer." Because that's not something I knew. But I do know our God is bigger than all of that and has already conquered our battles. So I did tell her no matter what happens, it's going to be okay. Jesus died so that we would live. I was reminded of the bigger picture through John 3:16.
My message wasn't about the possibility of death based on her circumstance. It was about the opportunity of life no matter what. That next day she told me it was benign. I was happy for her. That was a couple months ago. Today she has another appointment. She asked me to pray for her. I did. But no matter what -- she WILL be okay.
It's a strange way to see things. But when you look at the bigger picture, it all becomes so clear. Why do we fear death? I recognize we don't want to lose people here on Earth that we want with us. But I'd rather look at the glass half full. It's an invitation to Heaven and who am I to tell God when I'm coming Home? When you're going Home? Whether it's one breath and your newborn leaves your arms or 100 years and your parents time here is over, their lives have truly just begun. Life proceeds death and death proceeds -- the afterlife.
I sat in my car. We both felt a amazing sense of comfort not just in what John 3:16 represents, but because God told us He was right there with us. Even in two different cities, He was a part of our conversation. He gave me the message to relay to her through a sign.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
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