What would you do if the doctors gave you 6 months to live?
Bob Roberts was given 6 months to live and he has been doing what he has always done, telling the world about His Savior. That 6-month diagnosis was 14 months ago. Bob has stage four cancer in his colon; he literally has death inside of him. And unless the Lord decides otherwise, he will be dying in the future.
That last sentence is true of all of us though. It was true for my late wife. It will be true of both me and you. And it is true for Bob. The difference is that Bob knows his time is short. So, again, what would you do if you had 6 months to live?
Thursday and Friday of this week we had Bob as our chapel speaker at Faith. Heavy storms landed Thursday night and Bob experienced a Tornado alert on his phone. He joked that “well, I’m stage four, so what does it matter if I die in a tornado? That would sound a lot cooler at my funeral anyway!”
Here, in front of our eyes, was a dying man. A dying man that was joking about dying in a tornado. A dying man who told us how God was using the death in his side to work life in so many avenues. A dying man who said he would never press the “reset button” on this, because he has seen the Lord do far too much for His glory. Talk about a powerful testimony.
I actually met Bob on social media near when he was first diagnosed. My late wife Robyn was in hospice when Bob received the bad news. He reached out and we chatted. I found out that he was the one who developed the curriculum my church had used for their children’s ministry (Kids 4 Truth). He had read my blog, and we had death in common. Messaging with him was always mutually encouraging.
And though we only messaged occasionally, it was so cool to meet him in person. Here was a man using his death—using the trial God has stewarded to him—in a way that drew more attention to the hope of Christ. Bob has been speaking at camps and churches, and now he was here in chapel. Dying right in front of us, but seeming more alive than ever.
In one sense, the following verses were all being lived out right in front of the entire student body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
I was encouraged by this testimony of a man trusting his God, which was right in front of my eyes. And though my death is surely coming, right now my life feels like . . . well . . . life! So the challenge for me is to live my life for the Lord. That is not to say that we should not think about death. But when we think about death, we must always remember the hope we have and the commission we have been given.
So, pray for Bob, he’s dying. Pray he will be healed so that he can keep serving the Lord. But if God chooses not to heal (and Bob thinks that is the case), then pray that God will give Bob more opportunities to speak about his Savior. Each day is another step toward meeting Him, just like it is for all who believe.
Note: Bob is also a fellow podcaster, and has his own cleverly titled Podcast called “Dead Man Talking.”
Thoughts Worth Thinking 