This morning I had treatment number three, and it was a virtual duplicate of yesterday. As I lay on the table, my mind began to wander to entertain myself for the next ten minutes… What’s going on inside that machine? What’s even in it?
The operators are not in the room when I am being treated. Where are they? They can see me on a camera, and there are microphones so I can speak to them. Magically, the machine begins to move. Slowly and methodically this large circular object passes over me and stops under me. A few seconds later a noise comes from somewhere in the room. So, I count…. one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, all the way to nine seconds, then the noise stops.
The magic begins again and the device moves to my left side and stops. After a brief pause, the sound of radiation begins again. This time, eleven seconds. At least according my counting. Another magical moving, another pause, another 12 seconds of radiation. This process continues until I count off that I received about 1:15 of radiation therapy. Of course, I have no idea how much radiation I’m getting each time the magic machine stops and aims. My guess is that the dosage changes as the target is realigned at each stopping point.
I know I’m begin radiated, but I feel nothing. I know I have a deadly disease growing inside my body that could kill me if left untreated. But I feel nothing from my cancer. I’ve had symptoms, no indications except a slightly elevated PSA. My DRE was unremarkable.
Then I was reminded of this one fact: Sin is the same way. Sin operates in our lives all the time, and much of it we don’t even notice. We give in to sin, we participate in sin because our world minimizes, justifies or redirects blame for sin. Yet, it grows within us. We only become aware of the sin within when we allow the Master Physician to examine us and give us His findings. But we have to agree with His findings: I am a sinner deserving of death and hell. It’s only natural to deny that truth. I’m not perfect, but I’m a good person. A few “mistakes” in life won’t hurt me or anyone else, right? Wrong!
When it comes to cancer, early detection is essential for good treatment and a positive prognosis. When it comes to sin, detection is essential and God’s treatment plan is the only method for spiritual transformation: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 ESV) By confessing, one agrees that Jesus is Lord, or Master, Owner, of his/her life, and He is right about everything. By believing that God raised him from the dead, one inherits eternal life. Without the resurrection, there is no Christian faith. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, we have no hope and we will die in our sins.
Cancer can take your life. Sin can destroy your soul. Seek treatment for your medical needs. Seek treatment for your spiritual needs. Before it’s too late.
I felt so good after today’s treatment that I treated myself to a great bicycle ride. Almost 27 miles in 1:45. The legs aren’t back, but they’re getting there. My doctors told me that it was not only ok to keep riding, but that the exercise would make me stronger and healthier. Check out my ride.
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