Finish The Course

By Joe Keim

September 1, 2010

Tonight, we were informed that an Amish man in his late thirty's is lying in a bed, struggling for just a little more time on this side of eternity. This family man has been stricken with cancer that cannot be stopped without God's intervention. It has been said that the father and his family have cried out to God for mercy and healing, but for some reason God has not chosen to answer their passionate cry.

As we ponder on these thoughts, we, I'm sure, can't help but relate. Yes, we have all been there. In fact, some of us are there now. We have prayed, we have wept, we have begged, we have done everything we can to try and get God to look our way and show mercy and healing, but to no avail. And if you are like me, you have, at times, longed for just a few words with God. Or maybe a sign that would shed a small amount of light on why God is allowing this to happen. But nothing happens. Nothing!

Paul writes in Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

The word "creation" refers to everything, including animal, plant, and mineral. Yes! Everything in this world is groaning and travailing in pain. It has been that way ever since Adam and Eve made the huge mistake of eating from the tree they were forbidden to eat of.

In Acts 14:22, it says that Paul and Barnabas were "...exhorting them [believers] to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

Just because we become a believer in Christ, does not mean that we will get everything we want from God. No! Not at all. We still live in a fallen world.

Take a look at what these Bible characters went through:

John writes in Rev. 1:9; "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation..."

Paul writes in 2 Cor. 1:8, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Even Jesus went through unbelievable sorrow as He and His disciples entered the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:33-34 says, And He [Jesus] taketh with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

With that in mind, dear friend, may I urge you to hang in there for all you've got? Don't even think about giving up! Others have done it and so can you.

Some day, it is my hope that I can say with Paul, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" -2 Tim. 4:6-8.

-And I wish this very same thing for you-

Keywords: amish, amish voice, christian living, joe keim, map ministry, mission to amish people, sorrow