Be Like Mark

by Kristen West

Ihave a friend named Mark. Mark has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. This is the third time in his young 48-year-old life that he has wrestled with some form of cancer. But, here’s the thing. Mark is, hands down, the most inspiring person I know.

He lives in the moment. His joy is overflowing. His outlook is positive. His words are full of hope. He

purposefully uses every minute. He understands he’s terminal. But, more importantly, he understands we ALL are terminal.

From the time we were born, the countdown began. Our days are numbered (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:16), and our life is like a vapor (James 4:14; Psalm 144:4). Most of us don’t want to think about that. We certainly don’t want to talk about it.

Not Mark. He walks in the undeniable truth that to live is Christ, but to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Mark has a clear and deep understanding of his purpose. His life is ablaze with one mission—to love his Maker, his Best Friend, and King with every minute he’s been gifted and to tell as many other “terminals” about Jesus.

Mark knows that this diagnosis is not the end. It’s temporary. It’s earthly. He has complete confidence in the certainty that Heaven will bring fullness of healing, joy unspeakable, and eternal fellowship with his God. That is his hope and future, and because of that, Mark walks out his temporary existence knowing his eternal future is secure. Mark has no clue when God will call him home. Do any of us? In the meantime, God encourages all of us to make the most of our time and to redeem it (Ephesians 5:16). Temporary pain can’t stop us. Physical discomfort can’t stop us. Dismal circumstances can’t stop us. We serve a God who endured all of those things and so much more in order to have fellowship with us, so that we could spend forever with Him.

Mark embodies Paul’s command to, “follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Today, I pray that your heart and soul would be on fire for Jesus and that you would know, like Mark, that nothing can separate you from Him (Romans 8:38-39).

About The Author Kristen West works at Rock Bridge Community Church with a heart for staff leadership, development, and care. She is a communicator with a passion to inspire, encourage, and challenge others in their daily walk with Christ. She writes and publishes weekly content on her blog at kristen-west.com.