Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Two friends went to be with the Lord this week. Also, my eye doctor diagnosed me with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the last stage before going blind. I scheduled an appointment because I was talking to a pastor/friend and noticed blood enter my vision while looking at him. What do you do when you receive bad news? Panic? Fall apart? Or, do you—TRUST?
Isaiah 32:17And the work of righteousness will be peace,And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
I have been aware of the effects of diabetes for years but lived in a state of denial regarding the hard things. Other than lethargy, I wasn’t experiencing any effects of the disease. I thought the severe affects were in the distant future. A silent killer was crouching at my door...
Genesis 4:7"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Sin is the same. You ignore strategic time in God's Word and think you can eat a meal of Christian radio and your nightstand devotional book. Day after day spiritual junk food is eroding your spiritual health. You get to where you don't notice sin in your life but you are suffering from its affects without knowing. You begin to drift away from the truth and think you are ok but sin is present...
Hebrews 2:1For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
You don't have to believe that the speed limit is 25 but you will get a ticket anyway. There is no way to avoid God's discipline in your life if you violate His principles. Stacy and I were once involved in a wonderful recovery ministry called OneWay. Principle 9 of that ministry said,
PRINCIPLE # 9We lose our freedom to choose when we give in to temptation. Our consequences are inevitable and incalculable and up to God.
God is rich in mercy and ready to forgive, cleanse, and restore but you have to begin obeying the teachings of Jesus. Follow Him without compromise if you want to experience the life He wants to give you,Proverbs 14:12There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Ephesians 2:4-6But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
The thought of having injections and lasers in my eyes is disconcerting. Cross my heart and hope to die, it doesn't seem natural to have a needle sticking in my eye. Following God's commands can seem unnatural to you but that is what faith is about. Taking a step to obey when it doesn't make sense. Peace is the result of fellowship with Him knowing He loves you and knows what is best. Avoid analyzing your circumstances. Learn from them but don't make decisions from your analysis...
My Doctor is the right Source with the right information and the right directions. What He says is Truth. What I know or believe is not as important as what He sees and can forecast. It is imperative to be in step with Him. Because of His care and guidance I am being led to know things I didn't and prevent blindness. He has the right diagnosis and the correct treatment. If I derail from His plan I will go blind. Many other complications will follow but I can rest in quietness and assurance knowing that He loves me and His prescription is best.
(To friends and family - Injections to take place March 8th. My sugar is now normal and my wife has been so supportive as usual. I do have blood in my right eye and blurriness. My left eye has the same diagnosis but no vision loss. We plan to heed what we have heard and prevent any further damage. Vision should improve after treatment. Everything is going to be fine and we are at peace. The amazing goodness of how He has been in every detail drives us to worship Him. He is so much in control that we do not have to worry about a thing. We see where He prepared us and is sustaining us and He is GOOD. Thank you for your love and continued prayers. God has richly blessed us through you.)
Romans 4:20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,