Go Beyond

Corpus Christi, Texas

My brother-in-law Craig Reynolds knows that death is very likely weeks away. Over the past year his battle against stage four cancer has intensified.

Craig knows firsthand what cancer can do. He has lost weight, he must be nourished through a feeding tube, he is now at the chronic pain stage, and he is growing progressively weaker.

However, although this dread disease has exacted a heavy physical toll from Craig, cancer has not been able to penetrate the stronghold of faith in his heart — the flag is still flying — nor has it diminished his determination to continue telling others about the gift of salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ.

Knowing that his days are numbered, Craig has been working on a video project — something that will enable him to share the hope that is found only in Christ with friends, co-workers, and family after his death. He doesn’t have to do this. He wants to do this.

Like the Apostle Paul (Rom. 1:14), Craig understands that those of us who know Christ are indebted to those who do not know Him — in other words, we owe Christ to all who do not know Christ. So, even death will not keep Craig from telling his story.

Just like Craig, we will all face death one day. Death may come for us slowly or it may take us without warning. But, regardless of how it comes, even death cannot rob us of the opportunity to be an influence for Christ.

I have often written about the complaint of David in the 30th Psalm: “What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness?”  (30:9).

God alone can answer the first question. However, those who remain behind after the death of a loved one can answer the other questions. The fact of the matter is that our dust will speak for us after we die.

In addition to his video project, Craig has intentionally written a good script for his dust, one day at a time. Those who will one day reflect on his life will have to acknowledge that he was a man who loved God deeply and never wavered in his faith, even when battling cancer.

Job once said, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15a). Job understood that God has a bigger purpose that is not always clear to us, a purpose that we may not understand until we see Him face to face. That’s the kind of unwavering faith that will continue to tell the world of God’s faithfulness — the kind of faith that even cancer cannot diminish. And, that’s the kind of faith I see in Craig.