Glandular fever changed my life
Gemma Adam
The 6 September 2006 has been marked in my mind for a long time. Not because anything happened on that day, in fact nothing particular happened for me at all on that date. But 6th September 2006 was supposed to be the day I qualified as a solicitor. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a lawyer and this was the date that my years of study would have finally been complete. Unfortunately my plan was spoiled when I became severely unwell with glandular fever just a few months before that date. The illness put an end to all my ambitions and eighteen months on, my life is a shadow of what it was. Still unable to work, I also struggle to walk any significant distance and even sitting up causes me pain and extreme fatigue.
You may wonder then why I did not choose to title this piece “glandular fever ruined my life”. But as a Christian I know that my eternal life is what really matters and that continues to be absolutely secure with God in heaven, no matter what I do or what happens to me in this life. Perhaps you think it arrogant for anyone to say they are certain they will go to heaven. I admit that it would not only be arrogant but totally absurd if this confidence was based on anything I have done. Certainly at the moment I am pretty useless. I can't even do my own washing up, sometimes I struggle to dress myself, how can I possibly earn my way to heaven?!
My certainty is based on what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has done for me. In dying on a cross he took the punishment for all my disobedience against God. And by dealing with my sin he has made it possible for me to be right with God and to enjoy a relationship with him. Despite my glandular fever, I can look forward to meeting God and not fear his judgement because I am no longer God's enemy. During my illness I have been able to rest in the knowledge that although I am weak and useless, though my service to God is extremely limited, I can still be sure of a wonderful eternity with God, my Saviour, because of his amazing grace in sending Jesus. This hope of heaven has been a great comfort to me whilst I've been sick. In particular I've been reminded that our earthly life is actually only temporary and of limited value. But in contrast our heavenly life is everlasting and of great value.
OUR EARTHLY LIFE IS TEMPORARY AND OF LIMITED VALUE
Our Plans and Ambitions are Temporary and of Limited Value
Sometimes when I was in full health I foolishly felt that because of my job, my income, my fitness and health, that nothing would harm me, that I was in control. My friends and family would mock me as being a 'control freak'! My diary was meticulously in order, there were thoroughly arranged plans and lists made for every activity and beware anyone who interfered with them! Of course my sickness has exposed the weakness in all my plans, not everything is in my control. In fact very little is.
The bible tells us how ridiculous it is for us to make plans without reference to God: “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4 v13-15)
God blesses us with good health and life but one day he will take them away. It is a sobering fact but we know that there is nobody who can escape sickness or death. Great riches, a good job, membership at a gym and even 5 fruit and veg. a day, none of it can stop us one day, sickening and dying at a date of God's choice. Our lives are but a mist which appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Our Possessions are Temporary and of Limited Value
It doesn't take long when you are on a sickbed to see the emptiness and hollowness of all earthly things. Whether it is nice clothes, a good career, holidays, or all the riches of the world –they are poor comforters when we are sick and we will not take them with us when we die.
In Luke's gospel, Jesus tells a story about a rich fool. The man in the story had produced such a good crop that he decided to tear down his old barns and build bigger ones to store all his grain and possessions. And then he said to himself “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry”. “But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God” (Luke 12 v18-21)
Our possessions are temporary and of limited value. Only Jesus can provide lasting comfort in our time of need. True happiness is not to be found in the things of this life but in an eternity with him.
OUR HEAVENLY LIFE IS ETERNAL AND OF GREAT VALUE
Our Future Glory is Eternal and of Great Value
There is a strong link in the bible between suffering and glory. The Lord Jesus is a clear example of this. When he was on earth he was rejected and hated by many and he was eventually crucified to death on a cross. However the story does not end there. After Jesus had dealt with the punishment for man's sin on the cross, God raised him to life. He is now the name above all other names, sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. And those who have trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, will share in Jesus' glory. Jesus said “to him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit down with my father on his throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my father on his throne” (Revelation 3 v21). Jesus will share his glory and power and authority with those who trust in him now. Just as Jesus' body was raised from the grave, so will the bodies of believers be raised in glory.
I do continue to hope and pray for healing in this life but at the same time I can look forward, with absolute certainty to when Jesus returns in glory because I know that on that day I too will be given a new, glorious and healthy resurrection body. My new body will be indestructible, it won't get worn out with old age. It will be glorious and powerful, not weak. It will never get glandular fever! And it will not sin but will be perfectly holy like Jesus. What a great comfort to me as I suffer now.
Our relationship with God is Eternal and of Great Value
The most incredible thing about heaven is being with God. We will finally see him fully and know him as he has known us. This means we can get a glimpse of heaven even now. Every time we come before God in prayer, listen to his voice in the bible or sing his praises, we are experiencing a little taste of heaven. These moments have been so precious to me whilst I've been ill. Knowing that God, the creator and sustainer of all living things, loves me and cares for me like nobody else does. Knowing that he has been with me through it all, giving me the strength for each day is a wonderful comfort. I long for the day where these aren't just little moments, often crowded out by the stress of life, but when I can know the everlasting joy and complete satisfaction of meeting Jesus face to face. And then, the bible says, there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” and God will wipe every tear from my eyes (Revelation 21 v 4). In heaven I will be beyond the reach of sickness and suffering, pain and death. Glandular fever will no longer have any power. I have heard of soldiers who, whilst on the battle fields, were comforted by thoughts of home, where they knew there was peace and people who loved them. In the same way, although I suffer now I am comforted when I think of heaven, my real home, and my heavenly father who dwells there. Heaven will be infinitely more wonderful and delightful than anything I have ever experienced in this life.
Glandular fever has indeed changed my life and has prevented me from enjoying many of the pleasures of this world. However such things are only temporary anyway and are of limited value when compared with the eternal, everlasting joys of heaven, available to all who believe in Jesus. If you are not a Christian, if you have not yet admitted your dependence on God and trusted Jesus to save you from God's judgement, then sadly I can leave you with no encouragement for the future. All earthly things, whether health, wealth or even our lives, are temporary and of limited value. We will all get sick. We will all die. Even before that Jesus may well come again. And we will all, sooner or later, stand before God's judgement. I would love it if you could know the joy and hope of an eternal future with Jesus. Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more.