First Baptist Church

Perhaps you have heard of the Susan G. Komen Foundation dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Susan G. Komen, according to their website, fought breast cancer with her heart, body, and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital. She spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. That promise was kept in the form of starting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, beginning in 1982 and becoming the global leader of the breast cancer movement having invested nearly 1.5 billion dollars to date. It is identified as a “grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures.”

It is hard to argue with these brave people and their valiant efforts. Their stories of turmoil and triumph are often both sad and encouraging. Almost everyone, including myself know many who have been affected by this terrible disease called cancer, and the particular form known as “breast cancer.” It is devastating without a doubt. Let me be clear that I sincerely hope a cure is found so that no individual or family has to suffer the devastation caused by breast cancer.

I have been concerned about some recent radio adds promoting this organization. There are a couple of phrases which stand out. One of them is a woman stating that “I really never got to have a say in whether or not a lost my mom.” The other stand-out phrase is part of the ad campaign to raise awareness and is a particular concern to me from a theological perspective. The repeated phrase states, “because everyone deserves a lifetime.”

As our culture has moved further and further from it’s Judeo-Christian roots there has been a creeping in slowly of a sort of “pop theology” which is not really a theology at all, but is instead wholly “mankind” centered. It is a highly popular notion these days that everyone does indeed deserve a good, long, and happy life. People aspire to this and think it is ok. But, when we start feeling as though we actually “deserve” everything we have and more we are failing to understand our rightful place in God’s eternal and sovereign plans. There are essentially two “systems” or “schools of thought.” One says “I am created by God, fallen in my nature and am ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ There is no hope for me whatsoever apart from God’s intervention in my life. If I am saved it is undeserved and is completely an act of God. This is the traditional Christian viewpoint preached for hundreds of years from Protestant pulpits and, catechized by multiple creeds and confessions of faith. The second “system” or “school of thought” says essentially, I am a human being and as such I am entitled to certain rights and privileges among them are free choice, length of life, favor, blessing, happiness, etc. If anything deters or stands in the way of my “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” then it is wrong, perhaps even evil. Or as Invictus states, “I am the master of my fate, the captain of my domain.” Anything which contradicts this line of reasoning is seen as wrong.

Mankind was created by God and placed in a garden. He told them not to eat the fruit produced by a certain tree in that garden. The man and woman disobeyed God’s directive and consequently were banished from the garden. God cursed the tempter (the serpent), he cursed the ground for their sakes, and he placed upon them the punishment of the loss of their immortality. The day would now come that they would die. The Genesis record shows that Adam lived in excess of 900 years before succumbing to death, but he did die as a direct result of sin.

In the days preceding the worldwide flood. Genesis states that “the thoughts and intents of man’s heart were only evil continually,” but a man named Noah found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord. He, his wife, his three sons, and their wives were spared drowning in the flood. From them the earth was ultimately re-populated. After the flood life-spans dropped off significantly to the point that it became rare for anyone to live past the age of 100.

As time went on average life spans dipped lower and lower. In many places in the world for 4 or 5 millenniums life-expectancy was only in the 40 or 50 year range. Only now, in the past few decades has life expectancy actually increased to about 20 years or so longer than where it stayed for thousands of years. With all the research grants, drugs, therapy, etc. and the trillions of dollars which have been spent we have only been able to lengthen life by a miniscule amount. Instead of giving thanks to God for their lives, many are consumed with finding a way to prolong life here on earth.

Whether a person dies today or in a hundred years, all will stand before the God of this universe one day and give account for the deeds done in the flesh. Imagine how ironic it is to devote one’s life to staving off the inevitable. It is like someone being dumped out of a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and researchers working frantically and spending unimaginable amounts of money researching new techniques as to how a person could tread water longer, stave off shark attacks, and avoid hypothermia. Common sense tells us, why work so hard to avoid the inevitable in this situation. Well, good question. There may be some good ideas that the researchers come up with in fighting cancer, however death is still waiting for all of us, sooner rather than later.

People become so consumed with trying to cheat death that they fail to realize what life is all about. We were placed here to glorify God and serve Him. Many see their life as completely their own. The day will come, as scripture so clearly states, that “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” One day when persons are standing before God, life will no longer be viewed in terms of 70+ years of happiness and health in the suburbs, but as an eternity in one of two places – Heaven or Hell.

I am highly sympathetic to those struggling with cancer and those to whom it has affected their loved ones but as a student of God’s word, as a Christian I am deeply concerned about the defiant attitude and feelings of entitlement people seem to have about life. It has been said that we are of little use to God until we realize that we deserve absolutely nothing. Everything we have, every person we know, even every breath we take is truly a gift from God for which He deserves our highest praise and honor. No one “deserves” even a minute, much less a lifetime. It is only by God’s grace that we have anything at all, including a future which is secure!

In Christ,

Pastor Allen Raynor