[Today, let me (Josh Samuel) introduce you to my wife’s cousin, Alex Philip. He’s a thoughtful, considerate, strong Christian leader–someone I respect. Take a moment to read Alex’s testimony below of his cancer diagnosis.]
On June 23, 2013 – I was diagnosed with brain cancer. Everything else that was true about me was pushed to the margins and I began to restructure my identity around this medical diagnosis. Hoping to redress this, I began to take an inventory of all that I possessed that was of more significance and more value than brain cancer. In this inventory, I turned to Ephesians 1. Here are some of the things that I have today besides a brain cancer diagnosis:
1. I have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (vs.3)
2. I have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. (vs. 4)
3. I have been chosen to be holy and blameless before Christ. (vs. 4)
4. I have been predestined for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ. (vs. 5)
5. I have been predestined for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will. (vs. 5)
6. I have been predestined for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will to the praise of his glorious grace. (vs. 6)
7. I have been predestined for adoption as a son through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed me in the Beloved. (vs. 6)
8. I have redemption through the blood of Jesus. (vs.7)
9. I have the forgiveness of my trespasses. (vs. 7)
10. I have been lavished with grace. (vs. 8)
11. I have the mystery of God’s will made known unto me. (vs. 9)
12. I have obtained an inheritance. (vs. 11)
13. I have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (vs. 13)
“Hallelujah, all I have is Christ!”
In outlining this inventory from Ephesians 1, I am by no means seeking to minimize the medical facts regarding my diagnosis. Instead, it is my aim to magnify God’s truth. There are medical facts which accompany a diagnosis like brain cancer. But I desire to consider those facts in the light of and through the lens of God’s word.
If you or someone you love is going through a challenge such as an illness, you need not feel like you have to ignore medical facts. But I want to encourage you to see those facts through the lens of God’s truth. I can be reached at aphilip@pca.ca
[Alex Philip is a husband to Elaine and father to a 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter. He is a teacher at the Peoples Christian Academy in Markham.]
For a Christian, safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of Christ.
I am so glad you are safe in God’s hands.
Good night Alex.
Very inspired, I read Eph 1 with my heart and eyes wide open. Paraphrasing from Eph1, – the eyes of my heart was enlightened as I visualized the riches of his glorious inheritance brought to me in a great plan than was put in place before I was me. May God bless you abundantly.
Hi Alex,
Our God is able to do the miraculous healing. We are praying.
We will see the result. Be strong and completely surrender to His hand.
Chackochan and Elcey
Wow Alex. This is incredibly inspiring and really spoke to me precisely when I needed to hear it. Praise God for how he is using you. May you continue to put his glory on display. Suzana