Cancer

It seems here lately that a lot of people I know are dying from cancer. Lung cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer. The cancer battle knows no age. I have seen the very young, and the very old battle and fight this horrible illness we call cancer. I am sure that every person has had someone very close to them lose their battle with cancer. There is another type of cancer that, if gone untreated, is fatal...spiritually fatal.

Sin. This is the worst kind of cancer, because it affects the two most important parts of the body...the heart and the mind. Sin is simply disobedience to God's standards. Our sin begins in the heart. When our hearts are not right with God, satan has the full opportunity to begin to erode ourselves of what is true and godly. When the devil has our heart, he moves to the mind. If satan can get us thinking about other things than God and our relationship with Him, he has us. When satan has our heart and mind...we are slaves. That's right, John 8:34 says "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin'." Jesus said this in response to the Jews who asked how they can be set free since they have not been slaves to anyone. Slave to sin...how do we get freedom?

Romans 3:23 -- "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Acknowledge that you have sin in your life, that without God's help, you cannot control.

Romans 6:23 -- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Realize that you deserve to be separated from God because of your sin, and accept that it is only through Jesus and his sacrifice that you have life.

Acts 2:38 -- "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Commit to change. Decide that you are going to live more for Christ and less for yourself. Be baptized...being immersed into Christ to signify the beginning of a new life. Receive the Holy Spirit after you are baptized so you can have God's Spirit with you so you can make good choices in the future.

Matthew 28:19-20 -- "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Our responsibility is to help others not to lose their battle spiritually of this cancer of sin. We mentor, evangelize, and teach others both verbally and by our actions who our Savior is.

Sin is a giant cancer. It affects the heart and the mind. The solution...to turn to Christ for your salvation so HE can take control of your heart and mind so you can be cancer free! Will you still sin...yes. Will you sin as much...depends on how much of your heart and mind you give the great cancer physician!

Matt