Look and Live

The white blood cell counts and the ANC are a little lower than they were at this point on the first two transplant rounds but there is still strong optimism that she will jump high enough with tomorrow morning's blood test that she can be cleared for departure.

But if not...

That's ok.

Tonight, I asked Audrey if she thinks Heavenly Father ever wishes we didn't get so attached to this life. I mean, in comparison to the eternities, this life on Earth really is just a small moment. But the deep friendships and family ties we form here make it hard sometimes to remember that this life is only a test...a probationary period. The "real" thing is yet to come.

It's also easy, I think, to focus a lot of attention on physical wellness but maybe neglect the even more important spiritual wellness.

I'm reminded of the biblical accounts of Moses raising up a brazen serpent on a pole to save the children of Israel from physical death on account of their having been bitten by fiery flying serpents. All that the afflicted people had to do in order to be healed physically was to look at that serpent on the pole. Sadly, many died because they didn't believe something as simple as just looking could save them.

The real significance of this "Look and Live" experience in the ancient wilderness was to point the hearts of the people to Christ who was to come. True, the purpose of the Mosaic law was to point to the great and last sacrifice of the Lamb of God, but this experience with the poisonous serpents was to emphasize the point--then and now--that it's as easy to look to Christ and live spiritually as it was to look at the brazen serpent and live physically.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:14-16)

"If ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish? If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God." (Alma 33:21-22)

"Do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (Alma 37:46)

I'm deeply grateful for the physical healing that is happening with Talitha. And tonight, I'm also thinking of all the spiritual healing that has been taking place over these last months. God really is a God of miracles and tender mercies.

My prayer tonight is that we may with a brightness of hope look to Christ and live in every way.