Facing serious illness? Know God is with you

Of all that comes against us in this world, death is probably the one most feared. Yet, for believers, death is the only thing that releases us from this evil world and frees us to be with our Lord, who has planned great things for us.
The prophet Isaiah says in Chapter 25 that the sovereign Lord will swallow up death and wipe away the tears from all faces. Death only came to us when man sinned. But God had a plan to save us from death by sending his only son, Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price for our transgressions and bought for us eternal life in heaven. It is a free gift that cannot be earned.
Jesus says in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
To those who have Christ in their heart, death has no power to harm but only to release us to be with God who has riches and reward with him. We will be clothed in heavenly garments, for with Jesus, death has been swallowed up in victory.
1 Corinthians 15:55 says, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death is your sting?"
My friends, death cannot destroy a child of God. Our life on this earth is just a waiting period for God to come a rescue us and bring us to him.
While we mourn those who pass on before us, we take joy in knowing that we shall be united with those believers who have gone before us in a place that Jesus has prepared for us.
In Revelation 21:4, God's word says, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." For that reason, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 not to store up treasures on earth where it can be stolen or destroyed, but to store up treasure in heaven which will last forever.
No comparison
Our bodies may be on this earth, but our spirits should be longing to be with our God forever in heaven. The temporary joys of this earth hold nothing compared to the eternal unspeakable joys that God has planned for those who love him.
Friends, heaven is not just a state of being, it is a real place filled with glorious rewards. The word of God says, "No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him," (1 Corinthians 2:9). It is so wonderful that Satan is committed to getting believers to forget that we cannot be destroyed but only freed to receive all that God has planned for us.
What destroys our body cannot destroy our spirit. In 2 Corinthians 5:1, the Apostle Paul tells us, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
That is a promise from God for all who believe.
Those of you who are facing a serious illness, take heart, for God is with you. The fear of the Lord only is the beginning of wisdom, for nothing else can stop the perfect plan that God has for you if you have asked Jesus into your heart.
XMarianne B. Lordi is a member of Highway Tabernacle Church, Austintown.