NSMinistries
July 13th 2006, 11:26 PM
By Gary Piper
My good friend Adam Quigley inspired this article; Adam is a wounded healer fighting a good fight with Multiple Sclerosis. But I’ve written it for you the reader, a member of your family, or a close friend with a fervent prayer that the Holy Spirit may bless you in ways designed by Jesus Christ.
If you live long enough you’ll die! As harsh and unfeeling as that sounds truer words were never written. Some will see them as words of defeat. Other will see them as words of victory. The Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews makes his thoughts public. “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is precisely, salvation.”{1}[/url]
Are you wondering why I would start an article designed to bring hope with something that’s as depressing as death? Death is only depressing to someone without a living hope for the future.
Am I advocating Adam’s plight is hopeless or that he is a loser? Not in the least – Adam’s body maybe filled MS but his spirit is filled with Jesus Christ and anyone whose spirit is filled with Jesus Christ can never be a loser. Jesus makes winners out of losers every time!
Why then did I begin with—if you live long enough you’ll die? It’s really quite simple—death ends physical life not MS nor any other physical ailment, they may be doorways but that’s all. And according to the Apostle Paul even death itself is but a doorway, “then face the consequences,” he wrote about what happens after death.
Before moving on I’d like to set the record straight this article is not for my good friend and colleague Adam Quigley. It’s something he finished a recent email with that in a nutshell sums up his feelings. “I may go to bed longing for the day I am in the Kingdom, but every morning I thank God He let me have another day for sharing it with friends and family... I'm here and gonna keep on keeping on.” A. Quigley This article is for all those who can not replace their name with Adam’s name.
The 35th chapter of Isaiah contains one of the greatest sources of hope given us through the gift of prophecy. It not only speaks to those with MS but to everyone who battles with debilitating physical ailments. “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!’ Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly." {2}
(#_ftn1)
It speaks of things yet to come, “Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song.”
Yet before it speaks of things to come it speaks of the now, “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here…” If you’ve entered MS’s doorway then you may need to wait for future blessings but there’s no need to wait for God or the courage to be patient!
GOD IS HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Adam anticipates the future, “I am in the Kingdom…”
Yet because deep in his spirit God is empowering him a daily basis he is living in the now, “…but every morning I thank God He let me have another day for sharing it with friends and family... I'm here and gonna keep on keeping on.”
Does that mean that Adam is somehow a superman? Not in the least he’d tell you he doesn’t have X-ray vision. He couldn’t even read this without something to help him. Can he leap tall buildings? No he needs a cane to walk around with. But nothing on earth can keep him from swiftly moving out in love for his family, friends, and love of Jesus Christ.
Adam may not be a superman but that doesn’t stop him from being a hero! Most of us are accustomed to seeing heroes as people who put their lives on the line for someone else. The events of September 11th produced many heroes. Some of us see great sports persons as heroes yet silently day after day people like Adam battle overwhelming odds and go unnoticed by most of us. Probably the only time you’ll see their names in the news media is the obituary column of their local newspaper.
I am sure if you asked them they’d deny their hero status yet we need to see them in that limelight. Because they give reality to the undeniable fact that behind them and in them is a SUPER GOD, A GOD NOT FAR OFF, OR OF TOMORROW, BUT A SUPER GOD OF THE NOW.
God uses future plans to empower the present! Notice the bold portions in this future prophetic voice found in Jeremiah. “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. [u]When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord." {3}
(#_ftn3)
It is the people like my good friend and hero Adam Quigley that give power and reality to the compassion and love of God and his Son Jesus Christ. If you, a family member, or a friend has stepped through the doorway of Multiple Sclerosis then you need what my friend Adam has – A SUPER GOD, A GOD NOT FAR OFF, OR OF TOMORROW, BUT A SUPER GOD OF THE NOW.
With God the future is now—without God there is no future!
Copyright 2006, Gary Piper
Scriptures unless otherwise noted have been taken from THE MESSAGE copyright, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1){1} Hebrews 9:27 – 9:28 THE MESSAGE (#_ftnref2)
(#_ftnref2)
{2} Isaiah 35:3 – 35:7 THE MESSAGE
(#_ftnref3)
(#_ftnref3)
{3} Jeremiah 29:11 – 29:14 NET Bible
I need to say thank you to Gary. You are a true Friend...
Adam
My good friend Adam Quigley inspired this article; Adam is a wounded healer fighting a good fight with Multiple Sclerosis. But I’ve written it for you the reader, a member of your family, or a close friend with a fervent prayer that the Holy Spirit may bless you in ways designed by Jesus Christ.
If you live long enough you’ll die! As harsh and unfeeling as that sounds truer words were never written. Some will see them as words of defeat. Other will see them as words of victory. The Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews makes his thoughts public. “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is precisely, salvation.”{1}[/url]
Are you wondering why I would start an article designed to bring hope with something that’s as depressing as death? Death is only depressing to someone without a living hope for the future.
Am I advocating Adam’s plight is hopeless or that he is a loser? Not in the least – Adam’s body maybe filled MS but his spirit is filled with Jesus Christ and anyone whose spirit is filled with Jesus Christ can never be a loser. Jesus makes winners out of losers every time!
Why then did I begin with—if you live long enough you’ll die? It’s really quite simple—death ends physical life not MS nor any other physical ailment, they may be doorways but that’s all. And according to the Apostle Paul even death itself is but a doorway, “then face the consequences,” he wrote about what happens after death.
Before moving on I’d like to set the record straight this article is not for my good friend and colleague Adam Quigley. It’s something he finished a recent email with that in a nutshell sums up his feelings. “I may go to bed longing for the day I am in the Kingdom, but every morning I thank God He let me have another day for sharing it with friends and family... I'm here and gonna keep on keeping on.” A. Quigley This article is for all those who can not replace their name with Adam’s name.
The 35th chapter of Isaiah contains one of the greatest sources of hope given us through the gift of prophecy. It not only speaks to those with MS but to everyone who battles with debilitating physical ailments. “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!’ Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly." {2}
(#_ftn1)
It speaks of things yet to come, “Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song.”
Yet before it speaks of things to come it speaks of the now, “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here…” If you’ve entered MS’s doorway then you may need to wait for future blessings but there’s no need to wait for God or the courage to be patient!
GOD IS HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Adam anticipates the future, “I am in the Kingdom…”
Yet because deep in his spirit God is empowering him a daily basis he is living in the now, “…but every morning I thank God He let me have another day for sharing it with friends and family... I'm here and gonna keep on keeping on.”
Does that mean that Adam is somehow a superman? Not in the least he’d tell you he doesn’t have X-ray vision. He couldn’t even read this without something to help him. Can he leap tall buildings? No he needs a cane to walk around with. But nothing on earth can keep him from swiftly moving out in love for his family, friends, and love of Jesus Christ.
Adam may not be a superman but that doesn’t stop him from being a hero! Most of us are accustomed to seeing heroes as people who put their lives on the line for someone else. The events of September 11th produced many heroes. Some of us see great sports persons as heroes yet silently day after day people like Adam battle overwhelming odds and go unnoticed by most of us. Probably the only time you’ll see their names in the news media is the obituary column of their local newspaper.
I am sure if you asked them they’d deny their hero status yet we need to see them in that limelight. Because they give reality to the undeniable fact that behind them and in them is a SUPER GOD, A GOD NOT FAR OFF, OR OF TOMORROW, BUT A SUPER GOD OF THE NOW.
God uses future plans to empower the present! Notice the bold portions in this future prophetic voice found in Jeremiah. “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. [u]When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord." {3}
(#_ftn3)
It is the people like my good friend and hero Adam Quigley that give power and reality to the compassion and love of God and his Son Jesus Christ. If you, a family member, or a friend has stepped through the doorway of Multiple Sclerosis then you need what my friend Adam has – A SUPER GOD, A GOD NOT FAR OFF, OR OF TOMORROW, BUT A SUPER GOD OF THE NOW.
With God the future is now—without God there is no future!
Copyright 2006, Gary Piper
Scriptures unless otherwise noted have been taken from THE MESSAGE copyright, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1)
(#_ftnref1){1} Hebrews 9:27 – 9:28 THE MESSAGE (#_ftnref2)
(#_ftnref2)
{2} Isaiah 35:3 – 35:7 THE MESSAGE
(#_ftnref3)
(#_ftnref3)
{3} Jeremiah 29:11 – 29:14 NET Bible
I need to say thank you to Gary. You are a true Friend...
Adam