Tim Eimer: The good God wants for me is...

Dear Friends,

The same symptoms persist. Blisters on my feet continue to make walking difficult. Chronic digestive symptoms steal many hours of sleep from me, and fatigue has taken up permanent residence down at my core. Anxious thoughts about the results of next month’s scans flit through my mind everyday, and a pervasive discouragement weighs down my spirit, heavy shackles of fear and worry. Discouragement cracks open the door to temptation and sin. I hear myself complaining more than giving thanks (Philippians 2:14). My mind remains mired in the temporary struggles on this bit of rock instead of being filled with the unseen realities of heaven and my new life in Christ (Colossians 3:1-2). Impatiently, I withhold grace and love from those closest to me, from my family and friends and students (Proverbs 3:27-28). Fear and dismay rock my soul and shake my faith (Isaiah 41:10). I dwell on my troubles, and even a month of prayers provided little peace in my soul (Philippians 4:7) I find myself bargaining with God, exchanging favors for the promise of healing (Luke 4:12). I struggled to be thankful despite my circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). But why not give in to my pet sins? I’m suffering; I deserve it; who’s going to blame me?

Well, we all know who. Obviously, I lost sight of the purpose God has for me during this little trial called cancer. I should have expected this trial, or at least one like it. Trails and troubles walk hand in hand with our lives (1 Thessalonians 3:3). I was born to trouble just as sparks fly from the fire (Job 5:7). My tears and pain and death don’t get taken off the table until the old order has past away (Revelation 21:4). This month, God needed to remind me to snap out of my self pity. Discouragement is not part of the plan.

I also lost sight of why God placed me in this trial. This cancer tests my faith, purging it of weakness and revealing its strength and purity (1 Peter 1:7). Through this disease, I taste a bit of the sweetness Job discovered. God’s plan for my existence ends in good overflowing with mercy I do not deserve (James 5:11). The purpose of this trial is to come through it with a strong, blameless and holy heart and to be able to stand before Christ on Judgment Day without a trace of shame, guilt or regret (1 Thessalonians 3:13). The grand design for every blister on my foot, every night run to the bathroom, every dart of doubt about the tumors in my lungs is to work each of them for my good (Romans 8:28). The good He is working toward is not a pain free, symptom free, carefree life for me. His good is to mold and craft and forge my spirit and soul into a perfect mirror image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). Each small trial tethers me to this hidden process at work in me. The good God wants for me is the complete suppression in this life and eradication in the next life of my sinful nature, a nature forever hostile to Him. His good for me is the absolute control of my heart by the Holy Spirit that I may enjoy a complete life and perfect peace (Romans 8:6).

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So I guess I can endure the symptoms for a while longer.

I covet your prayers, especially for my discouragement and fears. Despite all my lofty words, I often find myself weary with worry.

God bless,

Tim

Editor's (Fred) note: After meditating on Tim's message and praying for him, here is an assignment that can help you take away some important lessons. Why not list all the ways you would complete the title sentence, "The good God wants for me is..." based on Tim's message and the Scriptures included. Send it to Tim or to the blog. I'll pass it on to Tim. Let him know how he has blessed you.

Jesus is the First Fruit of more to come!

From the Old Testament, we read God’s instructions to His people:

9-14 God spoke to Moses: "Tell the People of Israel, When you arrive at the land that I am giving you and reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain that you harvest. He will wave the sheaf before God for acceptance on your behalf; on the morning after Sabbath, the priest will wave it. On the same day that you wave the sheaf, offer a year-old male lamb without defect for a Whole-Burnt-Offering to God and with it the Grain-Offering of four quarts of fine flour mixed with oil—a Fire-Gift to God, a pleasing fragrance—and also a Drink-Offering of a quart of wine. Don't eat any bread or roasted or fresh grain until you have presented this offering to your God. This is a perpetual decree for all your generations to come, wherever you live. Leviticus 23:9-14 (The Message)


In I Cor 15:20 ff Paul compares the fact of Jesus’ resurrection to the harvest that takes place every year. It was the custom of the Israelites to bring the very first “fruits” of the harvest to the Temple as a Thanksgiving Offering. In so doing, they recognized that the harvest itself was a gift from God and not something for which they were to take for granted. By offering the very first portion of the harvest, they were, in fact, consecrating the entire harvest to God. The very term itself recognizes that there is more to come.

By using this metaphor, Paul is stating in symbolic terms that we will share in the resurrection as well. Just as the first portion of the harvest signals that there is more to come, Jesus’ resurrection signals that we too will share in that resurrection.

This gives me great joy and comfort. Happy Easter. Happy Resurrection Day! Hallelujah. He is Risen indeed.

Tim Eimer: ...my present suffering cannot compare to our future glory

Dear friends,

This has been a frustrating month. The blisters on my feet have hurt continuously for five weeks, and after a temporary reprieve with a new probiotic, my intestinal pain also returned. I preached the past two weeks about Jarius and the woman with the blood disease (Luke 8: 40-56), and the sermons were a success because God spoke to me during their preparation. He impressed upon me James’ exhortation in James 1:2-5 to welcome my present troubles with joy because my trials are perfecting my faith, but this past week, I told God plainly that I find no joy in these persistent health annoyances. My cantankerous attitude prevented me from writing a new update to you and shoved me into a state of self-pity.

Then in His providence, I read a powerful chapter last night about our Lord’s torturous ordeal at the hands of the Romans and the angry mob in a Stephen Lawhead book titled The Black Rood (chapter 36). The chapter was especially poignant as I have been praying about and meditating on the upcoming Easter season. While reading the description of our Lord’s crucifixion, my own minor pains quickly faded to insignificance. I felt compelled to camp out in Romans 8 this morning where God’s perspective crystallized to an ever-sharpened focus. I do groan for a release from this earthly pain and suffering, for the day I receive the full rights as God’s son, for the new resurrected body he promised me, and for my new found freedom (verse 23), but my present suffering cannot compare to our future glory (verse 18). I felt power emanating from God’s word this morning and experienced a taste of the powerful freedom I have from sin and death (verse 2). The self-pity of my sinful nature need not control me; I am controlled by the Spirit (verse 9), and in my distress, the Holy Spirit prays for me with a language too complex to fathom (verse 26). Even now, my sore feet and upset stomach are working toward my good, which is to be conformed to the image of Jesus (verses 28-29). My health troubles now and the threat of death from cancer in the months to come cannot separate me from the love of Christ (verse 35). Be encouraged, my friends. As brothers and sisters of Jesus, we stand blameless before the God of the universe (verse30) and will share in His vast treasures for everything God has given to His Son, he has also granted to us.

Enjoy a blessed Easter,

Tim

PS: Some of you have asked about hearing my sermons. The sermons from the past two weeks can be heard or downloaded from our church’s website at www.hccwg.org. Click “messages” then “recent sermons.”