The Time to Decide
“We came across a newspaper story about a World War II vet named B. J. “Bernie” Baker who was told he was dying of bone cancer. Given only two years to live, he told the doctors to fight the disease with everything possible. “Give me the treatments,” he said. “I’ll keep living my life.” Meanwhile he and his wife found time for a motor-home drive to Alaska, a fishing excursion to Costa Rica, and several trips to Florida.
Nine years after the diagnosis, he was struggling with shortage of breath and loss of strength but said, “I’m going to keep fighting. Might as well.”
Those words were not said in resignation. They were the words of a fighter, a real man, a man who had faced bombs and machine-gun fire in the South Pacific before returning to America and eventually starting Baker Mechanical Company The cancer hit him hard, but he had no plans for surrender.
Might as well keep fighting. What was B. J.’s alternative?
To quit and die.
What about you, in your battle with impure eyes and mind? What’s
your alternative to fighting?
To stay ensnared and die spiritually.”
Excerpted from Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey
Daily Reflection: In what area of life have you reached “The Time to Decide”? What will you decide?