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Verse:For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. —Romans 3:23, 24, NIV
The World Health Organization identifies cancer as the second leading cause of death globally. This generic term refers to a large group of diseases characterized by the abnormal growth of cells beyond their usual boundaries.
These cells can invade adjoining parts of the body and even spread to other organs.59 Loma Linda University in Southern California is a world leader in cancer treatment. In 1970, Dr. James M. Slater and his cancer-therapy team began developing a system that could take full advantage of the potential for treating patients with heavily charged particles. The purpose was to accurately guide an external radiation beam to an invisible target inside the patient. In 1985, as part of his ambitious undertaking, Dr. Slater proposed that the university build the world’s first in-hospital proton accelerator that would be capable of a more precise form of radiation treatment.
Despite strong initial opposition, the $45 million Proton Therapy Center was eventually built—the first of its kind in the nation.
The first patient, who had an ocular tumor, was treated on October 23, 1990. The treatment of brain tumors began in March 1991, and treatments using a rotation gantry began on June 26, 1991. More than 150 people are treated each day at the center.
The ongoing efforts to cure cancer, or at least to keep it under control, can teach us significant spiritual lessons. What cancer is to the body, sin is to our spiritual and moral lives. Billy Graham stated, “Sin is like cancer. It destroys step by step. Slowly, without realizing its insidious onslaught, it progresses until finally the diagnosis is pronounced: sick to death.”60 Thankfully, however, Christ’s sacrifice to cure us of our sins is infinitely more efficient than proton therapy is to fight cancer. According to Paul, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But he goes on to joyfully say, “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23, 24, NIV).
While some cancers are still incurable, every sin repented of is 100 percent curable through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Praise the Lord for it!