“For better and for worst”

These words were tucked away in part of the vows that my wife Lynda and I made to each other over 27 years ago.

Along the way, we had experienced life together and the Lord allowed us to live out promises we make to each other. For many of you who are married, there are times in your marriage where your love is tested greatly. Such was the case many years ago with Lynda and me. Our love was shaken up and made plain before each other and when we experienced the worst we found the love unchanged. Many call this kind of love – unconditional love.

Now I say to Lynda from time to time – “You know we said that we would love each other for better and for worst. Well we experienced the worst long ago and now everything just is better.

So it is when we hear “cancer”, or “tragic accident” or “serious illness” etc. We look at these things and we say this is really better, because we who follow and love Jesus Christ experienced the worst when we understood that we were totally lost, without hope, a sinful wretch, headed for a Christ-less eternity. That is the worst news that we could ever hear. But when we hear of the Lord Jesus who took that “worst” of us upon Himself and we call upon His name in repentance and in faith (that only He can give us) we come to say over and over again – “That was the worst and everything else is really better.” (Romans 5:8)

And truly that is how we look at all of life after we have humbly come to our Savior with nothing to offer but our wretched souls determined to nothing but for self. And when He saves us, we are never the same.

So this morning, I was reminded of this again – no matter what the news is from the doctor is certainly better than what I heard before Christ – so I knew the news would be better. We love the Lord so much and for all that comes our way, we rejoice in everything giving thanks. The world may think this is absolutely insane (I Cor. 4:10), but it is our greatest hope that they too would know the true worst in order to know what is far better.