by Gerry Givens

Now is the time to share Christ with others.

In 2015, I wrote several blogs about my treatment for prostate cancer (PC) and how the Lord led me through that process and to remission. I have had discussions with Pastor Doug since about my reliance on the Lord as I lived with my condition, which is not cured and options that were offered which might improve my situation. Most times the discussions related to “quality of life,” which I translated to the Apostle Paul’s statements about having learned to be content. I had a potentially fatal disease and I was content that the Lord had led me to doctors who cared, and who had proposed a good medical approach. I was content with where the Lord had me. He was the ultimate physician and he would decide how long the remission would last.

My attitude was not cavalier. I looked at each option. If a vaccine had been found to immunize against recurrent PC I would have been first in line, but meanwhile I was content with God’s care and my life in Him.

Well long story short, on Oct 22, 2018 I was found to have recurrent PC in tumors in the abdomen. Not normal at all. My PSA still says my PC is in remission. Search the web and you will find PC metastasizes to bones. My oncologist said he has seen one other case like mine.  My PC has not “read the text book!” I have restarted chemo therapy. It is hard. The side effects have hit me worse – maybe because I am not in as good health.

But enough, because this blog is not about PC.

I started chemo therapy November 9^th. Last Thursday Karen took our dogs to a groomer while I stayed at home. I had not been eating – food was yuck – side effect — I was very run down and lethargic.  I went downstairs to get a bit cleaned up and when I came back up, I did not feel right. I dropped my dirty clothes in the laundry, grabbed a bottle of Ensure and sat in the living room. That was when I noticed I was panting – along with the feeling that there was an elephant on my chest. Making the decision to call 911 is not easy – it took an hour. As I sat there wondering when Karen might be home, what she might say, what an ER staff might say, I became convicted that I needed to call 911. Thank God I did! And thank God there was someone to answer.

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
Romans 5:8-10 English Standard Version

How like our Christian life, the Holy Spirit convicted me long ago that I needed Jesus and gave the phone book – the Bible. How like the non-believers that each of us know, if they knew the personal risk they take getting out of bed in the morning, of not knowing if they will live through the day and the fate that awaits them, might they not change?

I don’t want to be a law banger and the Gospel message is wonderful, but each of us must find a way to tell our relatives and friends and those we do not know of Jesus and their need for him. I am not planning to get in God’s way when it comes to convicting.  But they need to be convicted of their need for a savior.

If I had not been convicted to call 911 maybe I would have been dead on the floor, but if your friend or relative does not know Jesus the result could be way worse than dying once – they may do it eternally!

This time through the medical system, I have met some wonderful people – some Christian, some not.  As God gives me time I will tell about some of them about Jesus and their need for him. I know I am being called to tell them about my best friend – Jesus – for as long as He keeps me here. Are you convicted?

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado