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Jim McCrory

Are You Near Life's End?

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Wednesday 17 September 2025 at 07:53

The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong

 Psalm 90:10 (BSB)

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Are You Near Life's End?

There will come a time when I must depart this earthly existence. What weighs on me more is the thought of leaving my wife behind. Yet, in recent months, I have seen God build a wall of protection around her. That assurance came in an unusual way.

At the close of 2023, I underwent a series of medical examinations. On the morning, I was due to receive the results, my wife and I—keeping to our daily practice—randomly read a Psalm. That day it was Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust.”

I turned to my wife and said, “We are going to hear bad news today.” She quietly agreed. Again and again in our lives, the Scriptures had spoken to us in a way that was unmistakably personal, words landing in our laps at precisely the moment needed.

And sure enough, the consultant confirmed that cells in the prostate that had served me faithfully had turned hostile and stirred rebellion in the pancreas, liver, and who knows where else. In other words, I had cancer in three organs.

The doctor looked at me and said, almost surprised, “You are very bravado about this.”

I answered with confidence: “There is a young man inside me who has followed me all my life. His age, I do not know, but he is always there. He comforts me. His presence convinces me that God has eternity in view for me.”

For the truth is this: God has “set eternity in our hearts.”

That evening, we returned home and read the whole of Psalm 91 together. We felt an unshakable comfort, a peace that cannot be explained by human means. I have no sense of what the Germans call Torschlusspanik—the fear that the doors are closing in. Instead, I awaken each morning with a miraculous calm that comes only from the peace of God that excels all thought. And to this day, God has built a wall round my dear wife and will look after her in my absence.

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Jim McCrory

You Have a Year to Live, What Will you Do With It?

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Edited by Jim McCrory, Wednesday 14 August 2024 at 08:29


"Life is a journey where the destination is predetermined." 

Jim McCrory


Image kindly provided by Jack at https://unsplash.com/@jack_anstey


“There’s a young man inside me.

 He has followed me around all his life.

 His age, I do not know, but 

he is always there

 He comforts me

 and his presence 

convinces me

 God has eternity in view for me” 

 

Last Autumn I went through some medical examinations. It came the day to see the consultant for the results.

My wife and I read a scripture that morning as we do every morning. It was Psalm 91: 1,2:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.’

I will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust.”

I said to my wife, “we are going to get bad news today.” She agreed with a pensive look on her face. God had often given us messages through the scriptures that were specific. God continues to speak as he has always spoken, but at times, the right verse miraculously lands in our lap when needed.

And sure enough, cells in the prostate that served me faithfully, turned hostile and have created a rebellion in the pancreas and liver and who knows where else.

The consultant, a kind Asian man, who seemed worried that I never received the full impact of the diagnoses said, “You are very bravado about this?”

“There’s a young man inside me. He has followed me around all his life. His age, I do not know, but he is always there. He comforts me and his presence convinces me God has eternity in view for me,” I replied.

We came home that day and read the whole of Psalm 91 and felt a great sense of comfort. I have no sensation of what the Germans call torschlusspanik, that awareness that the doors are closing in on me. No, I wake with a miraculous feeling of peace that only comes from God and Christ.

Contentment and Gratitude

The first thing was the need to create space. When it gets around that you have a terminal illness, many you have known from the past want to speak to you. As a solitary person who needs space to reflect and organise life, that came first. There are matters to consider. Passing on family photos and other documentation. Arranging a cremation. Sorting out the will and countless other matters that other’s need to respect. I recall when my first wife was dying with cancer that dealing with those who wanted some space with her became exhausting to the point that she needed protection whilst convalescing. It is a reminder to all that whilst in favourable season, that is the time for goodness,

Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Proverbs 3:27 (WEB)

The year will be up next month. Who knows what the following year will bring. Sure, the side effects of hormone injections hamper life somewhat with the tiredness, intrusive thoughts, dry eye and other discomforts,  but there is one thing for sure, my wife and I have not lost our joy. We are grateful for what we have accomplished in the past year. We have had a rich summer staying in Scotland’s fine places and camping and meeting interesting people whom we have shared our faith with.

Exercise and nature have restorative powers. This is important as cancer and stress are not harmonious bedfellows. Therefore, I carefully guard my peace and cherish it.

I still enjoy my book group and reading. I also start the day writing something positive. I don’t like the current way the world is changing. I like to create my own world by writing what is good and upbuilding.

And like the ancient cave painters who embedded their handprints, writing leaves a legacy as to who I am and that I was here. Life is a journey, but we can determine the destination.

When a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my hard service I will wait,

until my renewal comes.

Job 14:14 (BSB).

"Renewal", a wonderful concept.


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