Why I am Happy

Wow, with riots in many U.S. cities, a culture bent toward evil, a pandemic that’s killing thousands, and a 2-month long lock-down, it’s easy to wonder if God is still in control.  But Scripture assures us that He is! “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (Isaiah. 14:24).  From time to time, God withholds His hand of grace and allows us to see the consequences of a world that continually rejects Him.  I am glad that the Lord will not keep us on this cursed earth forever.  He came to deliver us, and for those whose hearts belong to Him, deliver us He will!

I am so grateful for this assurance, because recently I learned that my cancer has returned.  Last October, while I was still in Texas, scans and a biopsy showed that I had at least 3 places active for metastatic kidney cancer.  I haven’t shared this with very many people yet because I wanted to return to the Philippines and continue my ministry.  I knew that once Filipinos (and maybe others) knew of my condition, they would expect me to be bed-ridden and not able to function.  But I wanted them to see that as long as I don’t have symptoms, I can serve freely.

That’s the way it has been for the past 7 months, although the pandemic has certainly put a big dent in my mobility.  I hope to have at least another couple of months to share with the churches here that I am completely at peace with my condition.  I want them to see the smile on my face as I share with them about the joy I have in knowing that in a short time I will be in the Lord’s presence and enjoying the riches of His kingdom.  Beginning this month, I will be sharing with them this written testimony that I prepared last November…

WHY I AM HAPPY

I am happy because at the age of 8, when I asked Jesus to be my Savior and Lord, I received eternal life.  “Whoever believes in Christ has eternal life; he has already passed from death to life” (John 3 :15; 5:24).  "Anyone who lives and has put his trust in Me will never die" (1 John 11:26)  This means that although my physical body will one day die, Mark Moses will continue to live and will one day receive a new, resurrected body (1 Cor. 15: 35-53).  To the dying thief on the cross who confessed faith in Christ, Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).  In heaven I will be more alive there than I ever have been on earth.

I am happy because I have a place in heaven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what God did for me through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  “Through God’s loving-kindness we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead. We will receive the great things that we have been promised. They are being kept safe in heaven for us. They are pure and will not pass away. They will never be lost” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

            I am happy because I will soon be there! On Oct. 28, just a few days before I returned to the Philippines, I learned that my cancer had returned. For now I feel fine, but soon the cancer will grow and begin damaging my body. I will then return to the U.S. for pain management and to prepare for my ‘promotion’ to heaven where I will receive all the glorious things God has prepared for me. “No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, no mind has ever imagined the wonderful things God has made ready for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

I am happy because my children will be with me in heaven. While we will be apart temporarily, eventually they and their families will join me in heaven someday. I am so glad that Jan and I worked hard to be sure each child knew Christ and had made a decision to believe in Him as Savior and Lord. While it’s sad now to leave them, I know the separation will be brief compared to the eternity we will enjoy in heaven forever.

I am happy because I know my Christian Filipino friends will also someday be with me in heaven forever. For those who have been chosen by God to be “born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3), who have believed that Christ paid the death penalty their sins deserve, will also receive the eternal life promised by God. While it will be sad to say ‘good-bye’ for now, I know that me and my Filipino friends will especially enjoy heaven because we know that Ilonggo amo ang linguahe sa langit! 😊

I am happy to leave this world. “This world is under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). It is part of Satan’s kingdom of darkness (Eph. 6:12) that he uses to blind people to the light of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). God tells us not to love this world (1 John 2:15-17), it is full of evil (John 7:7), it doesn’t know God (1 Cor. 1:21), it rejects Him (John 14:17), and it is under His curse (John 12:31). Because Satan is “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30) and he hates Christians, it is certain that those of us “who live for Christ in this world will suffer” (2 Tim. 3:12). We suffer through sickness, hurts, sadness, temptations, discouragements, fears, hardships, and adversity. But praise be to God, I will soon leave all of this behind! “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Rev. 21:4).

I am happy because of what I will soon receive in heaven. “For your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom… a treasure in heaven that will never be consumed” (Luke 12: 32-33), experiencing eternal joy, happiness, and peace; walking with God! Toward each other we will show perfect love, gentleness, and kindness. We will know all the mysteries of the universe. We will enjoy a perfect world of amazing beauty: majestic mountains, green meadows, colorful gardens, quiet forests, refreshing water-falls, and golden skies. I am so excited to experience it all!!!

Some people may ask…

How much longer do you have? Answer: I don’t know. Cancers grow at different rates. As it grows, it eventually invades vital parts of the body and disrupts physical functions. Symptoms begin to appear, such as nausea, pain, fever, or breathing difficulties. For me, these symptoms may begin tomorrow, or may not appear until after many months. When they do appear and begin to hinder my work here, that will be the time for me to return to the U.S. and prepare for my ‘promotion’!

Are you afraid of death? Not at all. As Paul said, “For me to live is Christ, and do die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Death is only bad for those who have no assurance of what comes next. While I don’t look forward to the process of dying physically (hospital visits, needles, nausea, and such), I will regard any pain as a “momentary light affliction compared to the eternal weight of glory” that will soon come (2 Cor. 4:17). God has blessed me at this time with His peace (John 14:27) and even an excitement at what will soon come.

Don’t you want to live longer on earth? Once my purpose on earth is done, why should I want to stay any longer in a world full of pain and sorrow? There is nothing in this world that I desire more than to be with God and enjoy heaven (Psalm 73:25). There is a drug available for stage 4 kidney cancer called ‘sunitinib’ that may delay disease progression for one to two years. But it’s very expensive. I would rather that money be used in missions. Therefore, I have declined the drug. The expense is not worth keeping me out of heaven longer!

What about your work on earth? Any good that you or I do that pleases God comes from the strength He gives us through His Holy Spirit. The good works He gives us to do were planned by Him before we were ever born. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph. 2:10). Once that work is done, there is no good reason to remain on earth.

Isn’t dying early a sign of God’s judgement? Of course not; it’s a sign of God’s mercy. God often chooses to mercifully remove His people from this sin-cursed world and deliver them early into the joy of His kingdom. Jonathan Edwards was 54, David Brainard was 29, Oswald Chambers was 43, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was 39, Eric Liddel was 43, George Whitefield was 55, John Wycliffe was 54. Jesus said the greatest person ever to live was his first cousin, John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11). Yet, when John was in prison at the age of about 32, facing certain death, Jesus chose not to rescue him. Jesus was ready for John to leave the suffering of this world and to enjoy his many rewards in heaven.

Are you praying for healing? I am praying that God will be glorified in my life and through my testimony. I know God can heal instantly and permanently. But I don’t need healing to know that God loves me and is doing all things for my good (Rom. 8:28). If God wants to heal me, He can do it anytime. But if He does not, then I will thank Him for His mercy and eagerly await the day when I will step out of this body and into His kingdom. God knew the number of my days on this earth before one of them ever came to be (Psalm 139: 16). I am completely at ease trusting my days into God’s hands and letting Him carry out my departure.

Are you sure you will go to heaven? Absolutely! Not because of anything I have done, but all because of what God has done through Jesus Christ. The Bible was written “to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

I have a tremendous peace about my physical condition. I am not afraid; I am not worried. Instead, I am happy. I am grateful to the Lord that He has given me this time to be with you so you can see my happiness. I want your love for the Lord, Jesus Christ, to be so strong that you, too, will be happy when the time comes for you to leave this earth. “Because His loving-kindness is better than life!" (Psalm 63:3). For now, our task is to use every day to make Christ known to those He brings into our lives. May He find us faithful in this work until the day He calls us home.