The Fear Factor

The word cancer tends to elicit a fear response in most people. No one wants to be diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is seen to be tantamount to death. The words go together. It is because cancer is a device of our enemy, Satan, who is the author of confusion. His purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. Cancer happens when normal cells get confused about what role they are suppose to fulfill and become something they were never intended to be. They rebel...just like the author of confusion did.
Cancer does not scare me. It is not because cancer can't hurt me, if left to fulfill it's course, it most certainly can. In fact, it can kill me. But I am aware of a greater power. A power stronger than death. Jesus Christ beat death by rising from the grave Himself, and the Bible says,"If the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, He will quicken your mortal body."
Even if cancer won by death, I am not afraid, because I can't really die. I am assured to live forever in God's presence.
But we Christians must understand that death is still the enemy. It cuts short the plans of God for a life. It is a battle won by the enemy because it snuffs out life. Jesus is life. He came to give life. We should never give up the battle for life or buy the 'Well, I guess it was just God's will' excuse for our failure to fight the battle. We are at war!
Pain is another word that brings fear. No one likes to suffer. I have been in some pain lately. Pain can be either good or bad. I do not try to interpret it. It can be healing or a symptom of something going wrong. I do not let pain lie to me. The Bible tells me I am healed. Jesus purchased healing on the cross with my salvation. Done deal.
The bottom line is: fear causes chemical reactions in our bodies that suppress our immune systems. It is a tool of the devil. If he can get our eyes off God and on to the thing we fear (cancer or pain), he has won. The Lord wrapped me in a protective cloak before the diagnosis of cancer. It is not in my own strength that I am not fearful, it is because of His Divine help. I cannot take credit. The same strenght and peace He has given me He will give to you. He is no respector of persons. Don't let the enemy get your eyes off the One Who is life.