3 Tools to Overcome the Darkness – “Love Not Our Life to the Point of Death”

I once hesitated to discuss death with people fighting cancer, but the fear of death leaves a gaping hole in our spiritual defenses. Hebrews 2:14-15 proves the devil uses fear of death to literally enslave us: “(Jesus) partook of flesh and blood, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.“

In Revelation 12:10-11, the Lord stresses 3 powerful tools to overcome the devil – “the blood of the Lamb” (here), “the word of our testimony” (here) and (here), and the 3rd tool is “they loved not their lives even to the point of death.” I definitely needed this 3rd tool during my Stage IV cancer battle!

Joe and Terri Fornear share how God taught them these tools in their books which are free to cancer patients in our gift basket here.

So how do we “love not our life even to the point of death”?

1) Look forward to the joy of heaven!

We might think being “positive” means we only consider happy outcomes, and that death is THE worst scenario! Yet Jesus focused on the bliss of heaven and He was freed to view death as a gateway to glory. “For the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). But how can we be sure of going to heaven? Find out here.

2) Be willing to suffer anything for the Lord!

Later in my battle, I was so done with suffering! I proclaimed, “I want to die – now!” I was too willing to die. Yet what if God was asking me, like the Apostle Paul, to go through additional suffering to continue to spread His love and Word? Paul said, To live is Christ; to die is gain. If I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose … having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.” (Philippians 2:21-25). Heaven could wait. However long we remain, we have the joy of spreading Jesus’ Name!

3) Compare temporary suffering to the glory of eternity!

Paul suffered stonings, whippings and beatings just for talking about Jesus. How did he handle that injustice? He looked beyond the suffering to the glory to come! “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at what we see, but at the unseen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This is the Win-Win-Win status of those who receive Jesus as their Savior.

The devil cannot overcome us if we look forward to heaven and are willing to suffer for Jesus’ eternal purposes! Lord, empower us to love not our lives to the point of death!

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