I started cleaning house tonight, getting ready for family to come celebrate an early Christmas. Dusting the nativity scene, I stopped to pause and think about that little baby in the manger and the sole reason He was born. He was born to be the Savior for you and me.

If you’re missing a loved one, or you’re about to lose someone, I hope it brings you comfort to know that God has the last word. As our friend Tom Wohlgamuth said at the graveside service, “Chris didn’t lose his battle with cancer. Cancer lost its battle with Chris. When the cancer conquered his body, the cancer stopped living. It died. Forever. But Chris lives because Jesus conquered sin and death for us!”

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”

—John 11:25

Chris gained victory over death. His spirit lives on and continues to help others in their battle and in their walk with the Lord as we share our story with you. I believe this verse answers my husband’s long-sought-after purpose for having cancer.

“This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God,

so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

—John 11:4

After Chris was diagnosed with this terminal disease, we spent plenty of time in waiting rooms and hospitals with opportunities to think about the hand we’d been dealt. Cancer reminded us that life is precious, while giving us an opportunity to see God in many different ways.

Our relationship with the Lord deepened as we felt the depth of His outpouring love for us over and over again. We realized that even if Chris were to lose his battle against the cancer, we could find comfort knowing he would still have eternal life with the Lord. What greater love is there?

God deeply loves you. You don’t believe it? Look at the cross. He loved His Son yet sacrificed Him to pay the penalty for our sins so that we would be able to spend eternity in heaven.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

—John 3:16

You may not have cancer, but your life is terminal. You just don’t necessarily know what your cause of death will be or when your time will be up. Do you know, without a doubt, where you will spend eternity if you were to die today?

Have you accepted His love or rejected it? Can you imagine being a parent and having your child reject your love and shut you out of his life? Your grief wouldn’t compare to the grief our heavenly Father must feel if you reject His free gift of eternal salvation.

“But I’ve lived a life full of sin. How could God love me?” you may ask.

There’s no sin so big He won’t forgive you. Denying Christ is the only thing that will prevent you from entering the kingdom of heaven. If you’ve never invited Jesus into your life but want to do so, simply pray something like this:

“Dear Lord, I admit I’ve sinned in my life and ask you to forgive me. I believe You’re the Son of God and that You died on the cross to take the punishment for my sin. I believe You were buried and rose again from the grave. Thank You for Your gift of eternal life. I accept that gift and invite you into my life as my personal Savior. I choose to follow You into eternity. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

—Romans 6:23