The “everything falls apart” title above must be apparent, not only to me, but to many of you also. Recently we have all read about some well-known Christian brethren who have gone on to glory. Others are almost completely debilitated; one awesome Christian writer has just recently suffered a massive heart attack and is now recovering. There’s just no good way to describe what’s going on in this fallen world, except to say “Everything Falls Apart.”

Many of you have been very concerned about my health recently and have written to me expressing that concern with promises of prayers for me and for my family. I am a firm believer in God’s power to heal as well as His commitment to His children to answer all prayers. Prayers are our petitions to God and of course He hears all our petitions, we should never put ourselves in a position of denying that fact. A trip to my doctor last week confirmed my suspicion that my disease is getting worse. My facial muscles are beginning to droop quite noticeably, and keeping my eyes open is now getting very difficult. My strength has all but left my body and I’m exhausted as soon as I get to my feet. The disease I have is neuro-muscular; my auto-immune system is failing. In other words my body is killing itself. The worst part of this is my throat closes off to the point that I can only swallow liquids. This has caused a weight loss of almost 60 lbs since the first of the year and I’m continuing this trend at the rate of approximately 5 lbs per week.

Then there’s the prostate cancer which invaded my body about two years ago now. It had to be radically addressed because it is of the very aggressive type. Some of you might cringe at what my doctor had to do to keep the cancer cells from multiplying. It’s called medical castration and it works exactly the way you might imagine. I’m a firm believer and living proof that the truth of the matter is the curse is in full force in this universe as we can plainly see that “Everything Falls Apart.”

Scientists call this falling apart entropy. It seems the second law of thermodynamics is alive and well as everything goes from order to disorder. Nothing is excluded from the effects of entropy, nothing. The whole universe is affected and Paul tells us that “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22.

Paul then goes on to explain our hope and how the Holy Spirit helps us even in our infirmities as we pray because many times we don’t even know what to pray for.

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:24-28. So in all circumstances pray, because that’s where God dwells.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:20. The worst thing we can do is to blame God for entropy (the falling apart of everything) we must endure. After all, it was the first couple, our pre-flood parents who rebelled against God which caused a curse on the entire universe. God gave Adam the world yet he was unable to comprehend just exactly what God had given him. After Adam and Eve’s rebellion we can assume they understood their new situation quite well. Sorrowful doesn’t begin to describe what they must have felt as he and Eve got the boot from their most prestigious home in Eden’s perfect Garden.

When we begin to feel what many would consider extreme effects of entropy we usually seek help, help from God first, and then we might turn to a specialist in the field of our particular aliment. And encouragement during these times is as important as any medical treatment. In my case many of you have become, through encouragement and prayers, very close friends. Encouragement is a life line especially when our individual world begins to grow dimmer. Surely many of my brethren are in the same physical condition as I am, maybe not with the same diagnosis of illness, but perhaps with just as many physical limitations.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ” Romans 8:29-31. These words were recently a portion of a very encouraging letter which a reader sent to me. They were exactly what this follower of Jesus Christ needed to hear.

I’ve had plenty of occasions lately, as my wife can attest to, when I have been so exhausted that to continue the commentaries seemed impossible. Somehow God gives me the strength to get the next commentary done. The idea of sitting around and doing nothing just doesn’t fit in God’s plan for our life. God expects His children to keep going; always being assured of the fact that He will continue with us. Remember, we are told to hold fast to the faith, and to occupy ‘til He comes.

Everyone’s faith will be tested at some point in their walk with Christ; and I’m no different. My faith has surely been tested over the last couple of years. Yet James tells us “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12. My illness has caused me, many times, to wonder how I can possibly be of any further use to God. Yet He never fails to show me just how useful I can be. When I question God on the commentary’s usefulness, invariably folks respond in huge numbers telling me just how much they needed to hear what I’ve just written. Isn’t God great? He never lets us down, and He never will, and that’s a fact.

Everything falls apart, that’s for sure and for certain. But when our bodies begin to deteriorate to a point that we feel useless it’s then that God can genuinely use us for His glory. When our strength is so depleted that we can hardly walk across the room, then there’s no doubt that it’s God’s strength that sustains us. When all seems useless, when the world seems to be closing in on us from every side, then it’s God’s words that bring us comfort and the strength to continue.

God bless you all,

Ron Graham

All scripture is from the KJV and God breathed

twotug@embarqmail.com

96 County Road 5480 Salem, MO 65560

My past commentaries are archived at the following link

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html