| The Cancer that Always Kills - #4895 |
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Friday, October 14, 2005My friend called me not long ago to pray for his Mom. During some medical tests, the doctor discovered something he didn't like - a large growth in her stomach. My friend told me, "They haven't used the 'C' word yet. They wanted to take some more tests first." Now they've said the "C" word; the word all of us dread hearing from a doctor - "Cancer." We know what that word can mean. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Cancer That Always Kills." Anchorman Peter Jennings died from cancer of the lung. Many women die from cancer of the breast; many men from cancer in their prostate. Everyone dies from cancer of the soul unless they find the miracle cure. Thankfully, there are many modern medical tools with which people have successfully battled physical cancer and escaped it being fatal. But when it comes to cancer of the soul - which, according to the Bible, afflicts 100% of the human race - it always kills unless you find the miracle cure, and there's only one. Let's not beat around the bush. Our Creator has one word for the cancer that infects every soul, including your soul and my soul. It's called sin: the willful control of our own lives. And that causes us to ignore how God wants us to live and to choose what we want instead. It's spiritual rebellion. It's spiritual defiance. And, as the Bible says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Translation: we've done it our way and there's no way we're going to see God in heaven someday. No way we can come up with, that is. In James 1:15, God shows us the inevitable terminal consequences of all the wrong things we've done: "After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." The death that sin leads to is more than just your heart stopping for good. It's missing God's love and purpose and peace every day of our life on earth, and then being forever separated from Him and His heaven after we die. It's spiritual death from spiritual cancer. Physical cancer is something you can't see, but it slowly kills you. It's inside, it's invisible, it's deadly. So is the soul cancer of sin. In Ezekiel 18, beginning with verse 20, our word for today from the Word of God, it says: "The soul who sins will surely die ... Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die?" There's only one way to rid yourself of all your offenses against God - through the miracle cure purchased with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says that "everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) receives forgiveness of sins through His name" (Acts 10:43). Jesus went through the agony of being separated from God when He died on the cross so you would never have to be separated from Him. The moment you reach out to Jesus, and in total trust take the cure that He died to give you, your hell is cancelled. Your sins are erased from God's book as if you'd never done them. Your cancer is cured. In the words of John 5:24, you have literally "crossed over from death to life." This could be the day when you cross over. It happens when you tell Jesus, "I'm Yours, Lord. Your death for my sin is my only hope of being forgiven. It's my only hope of knowing God. It's my only hope of going to heaven. I surrender the steering wheel of my life this very day. And Jesus, from now on, it's all about You." Are you ready to take what Jesus died to give you? If you are, then I've got something here that I think might help you be sure that you belong to Him. It's a little booklet I wrote about beginning a relationship with Him. It's called Yours For Life and I'll send it to you if you'll just let me know you want it. Just go to yoursforlife.net on the internet or you can call toll-free at 877-741-1200. The cancer in your soul doesn't have to be terminal. Not since Jesus died so you don't have to. He has the miracle cure, free to you but very expensive for Him. Don't risk another day without Him. This is your day to cross over from death to life! |
















