You'll Leave It All Behind...And That's Not So Bad

Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco and I left a little piece of myself at Woodland Hills Kaiser—a 4-centimeter mass of benign tumor to be exact.

My schwannoma (not quite as tasty as shawarma) was a constant companion for years until my neurosurgeon told me it was finally time to let it go. And when he opened up the nerve sac, out popped my little friend “just like a baby.”

Recovery from spine surgery can be slow. Everything takes longer and every bit of help is appreciated. Patience and persistence are disciplines of faith.

Recovery also makes me thankful for community: supportive friends and family, a loving church, and an overwhelming barrage of prayers assaulting heaven’s door. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the people in my life.

It's times like these when we glimpse the momentary nature of this earthly life (2 Cor 4:16-18). The floor only needs to be clean enough to get my walker past: “Old man coming through!” The laundry and dishes can wait until I get my hugs and smiles. Ministry will be fine no matter how long I have to be away. Major surgery helps us fix our hearts upon eternity (Eccl 3:11).

There will surely come a day when every centimeter of my body, both wanted and unwanted, either energetic or exhausted, will end up in the grave. Only my soul will be with Jesus (2 Cor 5:1-8).

Psalm 49 reminds us that we all leave everything behind. “This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts” (Ps 49:13). There are foolish rich people and then there are the fools who follow them. Every so-called influencer today has millions of social media fans we call “followers.” Our society reveres the rich and famous, pop icons, movie stars, and gifted athletes. Yet too many are fools who pile up so much popularity that no one tells them when they’re wrong. They surround themselves with yes-men who support them in stupidity.

Sadly, “like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell” (v. 14). The wealthy wicked are going to die just like all the rest of us. They are as helpless as sheep being led to the slaughter by Death himself, for any fool who rejects the Good Shepherd will end up with a deadly one. They won't be led to quiet streams and luscious pastures, but to the pit of Sheol. Their bodies will decay and be consumed. They won't need fancy houses anymore once the grave becomes their final dwelling place. And in the morning, the upright shall rule over them. In the final resurrection, God’s people come out on top (see 17:15; Dan 12:2).

Thus, the psalmist declares his ultimate hope: “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah” (Ps 49:15). No man can redeem himself by human effort. No sinner can pay his ransom with earthly wealth. Our Surgeon’s scalpel has a way of excising all except what truly matters.

·       We have no way of escaping death and judgment, but for God!

·       We cannot overcome the pit of Sheol, but for God!

·       The grave would be our final resting place, but for God!

·       Only God can ransom the righteous from certain death.

·       Only God can shepherd us through the valley of the shadow (23:1; 48:14).

·       Only God can receive his people into heaven.

·       Our ultimate hope is not this earthly life, but the resurrection after!

Here’s the full version on Psalm 49.