Ed Wharton, is a follower of Jesus who has given his life to sharing the good news as well as equipping others to do so. Recently, Ed learned he has leukemia. At 94, he made the decision to forego chemo and other treatments and went into hospice care. He commented that he didn’t understand why everyone was so sad because he is thankful to be going home to be with the Lord. Anyone who knows Ed is not surprised that at 94, he is still teaching . . .
The fledgling nation of Israel was encamped at Kadesh Barnea when twelve spies were sent into the land of Canaan. Whether this was God’s idea is open to debate. If it was God’s idea, He wanted Israel to see the enormity of the challenge before them and how they could only be successful if they put their complete trust in Him. If it wasn’t God’s intention (but merely His concession), then it was a bad move for Israel. After all, God had promised them He would give them the land—obstacles were not only irrelevant, but distracting.
We know how the story turned out. Israel was completely shaken by the spies’ report concerning the inhabitants of the land—their number, strength, physical size, and fortifications. Their fear led them to believe the “bad report” (Numbers 13:32) and jettison the primary reality that according to God’s word, the promised land was a much superior place to the wilderness, and Yahweh would faithfully take them there.
We sit in absolute amazement at their inability to trust in the God who had just brought the plagues upon Egypt, held the Red Sea back while they crossed, and then released it upon Pharaoh and his army. If they couldn’t trust God, who could they trust? Our Bible studies turn into head shaking sessions.
But have you ever noticed how, as some of God’s people get into their twilight years, their group prayers can become d-o-m-i-n-a-t-e-d by medical issues and concerns? You’re not sure if you’re at a gathering of disciples or a medical staff meeting. And while it’s true that the frequency and often degree of these issues is increasing in their lives, so (hopefully) has the breadth and depth of their faith.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not against taking these things to the Lord—but not with the fervor and frequency some do. I know of instances where the better part of an hour is devoted to these things—and nothing else! No giving of thanks or praise to our Father. No prayer for people who don’t know Him or those wrestling with first-degree temptations. No mention of those who’ve chosen to go to a place solely for the purpose of sharing Christ.
How did we get to this point?
Like Israel, it seems as if we have somehow lost sight of the primary reality that according to God’s word, the promised land is a much superior place to the wilderness, and our Father will take us there!
In the end, our prayers tend to reflect our core values—not what we talk about as being important, but what we really believe deep down inside. Ed Wharton is a modern-day Caleb, reminding us not to expend the better part of our efforts and energy acting as if there is no life after this one, but to boldly put our faith in our Father to take us into that which is life indeed.
For some suggestions on how this looks in praying for those who are sick, click here.
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 