Daily Wisdom 06-06-2002 The Cancer Breakthrough

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The Cancer Breakthrough

Its the word you hope youll never hear when youre in your doctors officecancer. But recently theres been a beautifulfour-letter wordthat may go with that ugly word. Its the word "cure". The possible breakthroughs have to do with one of the greatestkillers of womenbreast cancer. But the discoveries may turn out to open up ways to cure other cancers, too. This entirely newapproach to fighting cancerone that has shown promising results in lengthening the lives of terminally ill cancer patientshas beendescribed as "attacking cancer at its genetic roots." The gene is called HER-2, and it produces this protein on the surface of cells thatultimately helps accelerate that abnormal growth that becomes cancer. Scientists have now developed a treatment that attacks thisgenetic malfunction that causes some cancers. One researcher offers hope to millions who have cancer or who may develop cancerwhen he says, "If we understand what is broken in the malignant cell, we may be able to fix it." Theyre calling this one of the hottestareas of cancer research. And it makes sensestop the cancer by stopping its genetic root.

Now you may be one of the blessed people like me who when you hear about cancer, you can say, "Not me." I wish I couldsay that about the cancer that infects all of usthe deadliest cancer there is. I guess we might call it heart cancer. Its that spiritualcancer in the human heart that causes so much hurt and guilt and shame, and brokenness. The Bible calls it sinmiddle letter: "I". When Pat Riley took over as coach of the New York Knicks some years ago, he said their problem was a disease they all had"thedisease of me." Actually, its disease we all have.

We were created by God to live life His way. According to the Bible, weve all said, "No. No. Not Gods way. My way" Thats the root of our deadly spiritual cancer. And its terminal. No matter how religious or how nice we are, God makes it clear thatthe wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23)thats death as in being eternally cut off from God, His life and love.

This is the cancer that devastates our self-respect, our family, the people we love the mostand often hurt the mostour innerpeace, our eternity. And like mankinds battle against physical cancer, the battle against this disease of me has been going on for a longtime.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Romans 7:15. What I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate Ido. Sound familiar? Thats our losing battle against this dark disease in our heart. The writer of these words is desperate for a cure,and he asks, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) Just like us, hes found no cure that can get at the rootcause of all the dark things that come out of us.

Then comes the announcement of the cancer breakthrough. As this fellow-sinner asks, "who will rescue me?" He answers "Thanks be to Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus has pioneered the cure for this spiritual cancer that has seemed sounstoppable, so incurable. He shed His blood on the cross, absorbed all the sin, all the punishment, and attacked the root causes of theactions and the attitudes we hateand broke the power of sin by taking all its punishment.

So many peoplemaybe even people you knowhave opened their lives to Jesus and found forgiveness and moral victory thatis changing their lives. It can be yours today if youll tell Jesus youre trusting Him to do that for you. Find out more about how arelationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure, check outYOURS FOR LIFE!

The disease of me is ravaging spiritual cancer. Its terminal, but the cure is within your reach. The only reason youd go onemore day still dying is if you refuse to reach out to Jesus for the cure.

Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular radio broadcast,"A Word With You"."A WORD WITH YOU" daily devotionals are now available via e-mail. To subscribe send a blank email to:awordwithyou-subscribe@hutchcraft.com,or to request the "Yours for Life" booklet, fill out the form on this site:http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/yours/yflorder.html. Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providingpractical answers to real life issues. (c) 2000 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.PO Box 400, Harrison AR 72602