Giving Thanks You’ve Arrived, November 20
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Tom Corbell
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.… (Hebrews 12:28a).
Intimacy with Christ leaves us completely thankful for the immense blessings of this life and completely aware of wanting more than this life. Thomas Merton addresses this in the quote below. Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was an American priest, writer, theologian, poet, and scholar who wrote more than fifty books in a period of twenty-seven years. Merton wrote:
In one sense, we are always traveling, and traveling as if we did not know where we were going. In another sense, we have already arrived. We cannot arrive at the perfect possession of God in this life, and that is why we are traveling and in darkness. But we already possess him by grace, and therefore, in that sense we have arrived and are dwelling in the light.1
It’s easy to see what Merton means by “always traveling.” Each day we strive to see Christ with clarity amongst all the distractions of this world. Yet what does Merton mean by “we have already arrived”? In his letter to the Colossians, Paul beautifully describes where our salvation has delivered us: “He [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
As Christians we have arrived in the kingdom of God. This and other verses clearly proclaim that we dwell in the Kingdom of God now, not just after we die. Perhaps we need to be thankful not only for our daily travels, but for the wonder of having already arrived.
When cancer becomes a part of our travels, it can change so many things—our energy levels, our appetites, comfort levels and even our desire to “celebrate.” Suddenly, things we took for granted become precious—our health, our energy level and even our future. Cancer can easily make things we thought were unshakable—shaken.
Today’s verse from Hebrews tells us that, even as Christians, the world we live in can be shaken. Living in anticipation of the next treatment or scan raises our awareness of just how fragile things can be. It’s no wonder that cancer often makes us hunger for a place that is unshakable. How precious would it be to have a place that is unshakable by anything in this world?
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.…” (Hebrews 12:28a).
The only unshakable place is the kingdom of God. You have arrived there through your salvation bought for you by Jesus on the cross.
Cancer can too often drag us into surviving our daily travels and losing sight of the immense blessing of standing right now, today in the kingdom of God. Lift up your eyes from the struggle of your travels and be thankful, joyful, and relieved that you have already arrived in your true home—the kingdom of God.
Pray: Sovereign God, remind us that as Christians we have arrived in our true home, the kingdom of God, through our salvation. We praise You that in this place we find Your love and Your strength for us, which are unshakeable by anything in this world. Amen.
Your Turn: Listen to the words of “Unshakable” sung by Life Center Worship, and praise Jesus that He is our faithful and unfailing Rock—steadfast and never shaken.
1. Merton, Thomas, and John Blattner. Mornings with Thomas Merton: Readings and Reflections. Ann Arbor, MI: Charis Books, 1998.
Tom Corbell, Hospice Pastor
Tom is a Lutheran pastor who has served Jesus in both North and South Carolina for forty-nine years. Six of those years he worked as a Hospice Chaplain, and he encountered cancer daily. The privilege of praying, working with and supporting cancer patients and their families is an honor.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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