Sara

Last fall, a fellow student walked onto the stage of the Psalm Center.
Her name was Sara.
She had what looked like a knee that couldn't bend, short pixie haircut pulled back in a headband, and a beautiful smile that reached to the farthest seat.
Sara was a senior communications student and she was standing in front of us to share her story.

In the summer of 2009, cancer was discovered in her knee.
Many surgeries were performed along with chemotherapy.
She ended up with a titanium knee and hip in October 2009.
Then she went through multiple lung surgeries that winter.

She spoke on how it was so hard.
She wanted to give up and go Home to Jesus.
But it wasn't time yet.
Tears poured down my face as she shared.
She displayed love and obedience to Christ even through this fatiguing battle.

She returned in the fall of 2010 to finish her senior year at Corban University.
I never personally met her, but her positive attitude and contagious smile was encouraging to me when I'd see her around campus.

In January, the student body was notified that the cancer had made a resurgence.
It would not let up this time.
Corban decided to award her an honorary communication degree because of all her hard work and the work of other students who helped to fulfill her remaining community service credits.
A special ceremony was arranged in her living room with the school's president, vice president, and her family.


For a few weeks I hadn't heard an update on how she was doing.
This week,
          finals week,
                     the week before she would graduate,
                                             I got an e-mail from the school.

On Monday night, our prayers were answered.
Sara was completely healed.
This fellow saint was delivered into Jesus' arms to worship Him for the rest of eternity.
She is now dancing and praising Him in the absence of pain.

I don't pity her.
I envy her.
She's in heaven, free of the bonds of this fallen world!

Sometimes I think the church focuses on the earth too much.
Guys!
Let's get excited about heaven!

Sara can do anything now...
Save one thing.

She can't share her story with those still on earth.
She can't share the greatness of the One who carried her through the suffering.
While she was still here, she was faithful to do so

But it's our turn now.
I'm sure she doesn't regret any time she shared the Gospel with someone.
She can't witness now, but we can.
There's no telling what Sara's posthumous testimony can accomplish for the Gospel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face...

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;

but the greatest of  these is love...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing....

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,

for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,

which God has promised to those who love Him.

~~~~~~~~1 Corinthians 13:12-13, James 1:2-4, 12~~~~~~~~