The Untouchables

By David A. Sargent     Dan Richardson lost his battle with cancer. A fervent Christian, he wrote the following to be distributed at his memorial service.     Cancer is limited . . . It cannot cripple love, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy confidence, It cannot kill friendship, It cannot shut out memories, It cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the Spirit, It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.*     “You have cancer.”  So many have heard these devastating words.  Fear is the most common response.  These are sobering, life-altering words.     The medical profession has made many advances.  We pray for our loved ones who have heard the somber diagnosis.  We long to hear the words after surgery and treatments: “You are cancer free.”     Even children of God are not immune from this disease.  But Dan Richardson’s words remind us of what cancer cannot touch.  May his words that are based on Scriptural truths bring strength, comfort, and peace to you, if you are battling cancer or going through some other difficult struggle.     Neither cancer nor any other trial in life can touch the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ.  That is because Jesus has won for us the victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).      Unforgiven sin is the only real reason for despair because it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and puts us on the path to eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).     But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16) so that we can receive the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).     God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin and prepare for an eternal home those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).     Are you struggling with the difficulties that plague us in this world?  Consider the untouchable blessings that are found in Christ.  He died to make these things possible for you.  Embrace these blessings on His terms.  They will sustain you now and for eternity.

David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org