The Established Path of Discipleship

On Thanksgiving morning, a dear friend called to interrupt my morning routine. However, life does not have interruptions when viewed through God’s providence. I was saddened by the news he shared that his cancer had metastasized to his bone, but his unwavering focus on God’s blessings was truly humbling. He was going to the grocery store to pick up forgotten items for the Thanksgiving meal. Rather than focusing on his physical condition, he thought about all the men at the grocery store picking up last-minute items. He saw this as an opportunity for ministry and witness, a reminder to be grateful for the blessings in our lives.

Throughout November, I read and studied Ecclesiastes. This study surprised me because, rather than being a depressing book, it is a sobering dose of positive reality. The reality is that life is not meaningless or vanity. There are three main lessons I learned from my time in Ecclesiastes:

1. Life is a vapor that passes faster than we realize.
2. God commands us to enjoy his good gifts in our short life on earth.
3. Don’t waste your life trying to figure out God’s providence. Why is this happening? Why doesn’t this happen? Instead, live every moment for his glory, take every opportunity he gives you to serve others and share the good news of the Gospel.

My friend with cancer is living in this positive reality. His call was not an interruption—far from it. God’s good and kind providence reminded me of what is important. May God fill you with the wonder of his presence in your life and sharpen your focus in your remaining years under the sun.