Transcript of the video
The second, I received a message from a church member for a long time, younger than me, just a little, but at the age of most parents here, I would say, I was in the hospital with stage 4 cancer and maybe I didn’t have much time. So I called Jason Meyer and asked him, “Can I visit you?”That’s how it works here. And he never says no, but I’ll make that clear. He said, come on! And I went to Abbott, parked in Chicago, where I’ve been parked for 38 years, I know the secret parking spaces. So I went to the oncology department, room 3968, and when the nurses left, I walked in, she had a big smile. I sat down, and you know what we did for fifteen minutes?We are proud of the hope of God’s glory!
- We won’t be reserved.
- You’ll die and I’ll die! You’re sick.
- Maybe I’m sick.
- There are no games.
- Let’s get ready.
- Talk about it.
- Enjoy it and bragging about it!So I looked her in the eye and said.
- “God did not prepare you for anger.
- But you have been saved by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for you.
- So if you are awake or asleep.
- You will live with Him.
- Which is the glory of God.
- Listen.
- Whether you’re in the seminary.
- Whether you’re preparing for the pastorate or not.
- You’re going to have to go through this someday.
- Don’t run away from this situation!There is nothing sweeter.
- More precious.
- Deeper and more incredible than being with someone who will be in Jesus’ presence in a few weeks.
- And exalt him with it in the hope of God’s glory!.
A final illustration of the New Testament, at the end of my starting point. You are not called to temporal joy, but to eternal joy. Full of pain but still cheerful. And I maintain that the key to this is hope. The key to a state of constant joy when you have cancer, or the flooding of your home in North Carolina, or any form of suffering, is hope in God’s glory. Happy you are, when you’re insulted, they chase you and, lying, they talk to you badly because of me. Rejoice and rejoice and then it says “because your reward in heaven is great. “This is the only way, the only way! You have to look to heaven, you have to love the glory of God that comes to you, whether in weeks or years, more than you love anything in this world. More than taking 10 tests, getting married or in good health. Which means, in conclusion, that hope in God’s glory is the key to loving people and feeling compassion for them, even if it can cost them their lives.
Hebrews 10:34: “Why did you not only feel sorry for those in prison?Where does it come from?” Because not only did you feel sorry for those in prison, but you also gladly accepted the confiscation of your property, not only did you bear the confiscation of your property, but you gladly accepted the confiscation of your property, because you identified with those Christians who were in prison, how did they do that?How did you do that?! How did you have joy while burning your house?Knowing you have something better and permanent? Infinitely better, infinitely durable. The glory of God, which fully satisfies.