about 15 years ago a friend of mine was so moved by a book that
she bought a copy for me and my whole family it was called the last lecture by randy pausch
it was a powerhouse people talk about the world just laying open for them and
and randy was that guy he was extraordinarily gifted worked extraordinarily hard and he arrived
when he wrote the book he seemed like he was on top of the world with work and with family he was
the professor of computer science at human computer science human computer interaction and design at
carnegie mellon mellon university he was an award-winning teacher and researcher he worked
with adobe google electronic arts walt disney and pioneered a non-profit to support youth and
computer technology on the home front he was married he had three young boys to many including himself
his life looked like a dream and at 46 he was excited and looking forward to what the next half of life
would hold at that time randy was diagnosed with cancer he had the best medical care that was
available but the treatments were ineffective and the doctors told him that he had three maybe six
months of relative health left and then his body would decline rapidly and he would die
it was a jarring and heartbreaking diagnosis not just for the loss of what he had built but perhaps even
more for what he had left to give the future he spent his life for wasn't going to happen and so what did
he do he did the best thing that he knew how he tried to make the most of that three months as a husband
father and professor he gave his limited health to what he hoped might most endure he stepped back from
regular teaching at the university and gave time to his family and especially his last lecture a last
lecture if you're not familiar with it and i am not in this community and what it was not that familiar with
it either but in academia it's a commonplace activity it's when a retiring professor gives their final
instruction to their students they're generally great it's like a mini magnum opus of all the most important
and profound bits of wisdom that they've gathered over their career their life randy's came much earlier than
expected but he handled it much differently too instead of words of wisdom for students and colleagues his were to his
not old enough really to comprehend what was going on he wanted to give them a way to learn from their father
after he could no longer be with them as it turns out randy's lecture struck a chord with many it was recorded
turned into a book and was a viral publishing sensation people passed his story on just like
that friend did to me and they wanted more more of his wisdom they wanted to see a miraculous recovery
but a very short time later randy passed away
what do you think you would do
it's not easy to answer sometimes we don't have the time to think about it like randy did
some of you probably remember the recent bills versus bangles game
it was early in the first quarter when bill's safety demar hamlin made an extraordinary tackle
he got back up
and he immediately fell straight back down
almost instantly players coaches and fans realized that something was wrong
players gathered around the roaring stadium fell to an eerie whisper
and announcers cut to commercial break after commercial break
no one said it out loud but it was clear that we were all wondering the same thing
are we witnessing the healthiest one of the healthiest people on the planet
in the prime of his life living his dream die on national tv
as time went on hours and then days
we came to find out that demar had suffered a cardiac arrest
as cardiac arrests go his chance of survival was 10 percent
there was a 90 percent chance that he would die
millions watched as this elite human being laid helpless
on full life support on a hospital bed
fortunately demar was one of the 10 percent
he came out of the coma and is recovering surprisingly well
the point is no matter how strong we are
how well we're doing
how much more we have to give
we are fragile
as paul puts it later on in this very letter
we are like jars of clay hard pressed on every side
the problem is we don't really handle our fragility very well
for the most part we try to ignore it
we don the rose-colored glasses and feign invincibility
we are tough
but it doesn't work
no matter how hard we try the truth keeps poking holes
in our delusion
on the physical side every day we get a little older
some of you know better this experience than others
at a certain point we don't run as fast
we don't lift as much
our bones hurt
those six-pack abs they fade
and so does our vision
so does our memory thankfully
and on the mental side it's worse
every one of our personal histories is fraught with anxiety
temptation and failure
in the face of our anxiety
we shrink back from what we ought to do
and in the face of our temptations we give way
in fact
the more obvious our fragility becomes
the weakness becomes
our inability to control our circumstances
the more seriously we look for relief
or escape
in any form that we can find it
even if that's escape from life itself
and this is where God meets us
in Paul's confession to the Corinthians
in verse 8 he says
for we do not want you to be unaware brothers
of the affliction we experienced in Asia
for we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength
that we despaired of life itself
now I think our first impulse
hearing a story like that from anyone
is to ask
what happened
that had to be so bad
and especially if it drove Paul
to this point
I mean Paul's
no stranger to suffering
in chapter 11
in this
very letter
this is what he says
in just chapter 11
five times I received at the hands of the Jews
forty lashes less one
three times I was beaten with rods
once I was stoned
three times I was shipwrecked
a night and a day I was adrift at sea
on frequent journeys
in danger from rivers
danger from robbers
danger from my own people
danger from Gentiles
danger in the city
danger in the wilderness
danger at sea
danger from false brothers
in toil and hardship
through many a sleepless night
in hunger and thirst
often without food
and cold and exposure
and apart from other things
there's the daily pressure on me
of my anxiety for all the churches
so what
what in the world happened
and yet Paul
he doesn't tell us
the case specific details here
and I think that's on purpose
we're not supposed to be able
to distance ourselves
too far
from his experience
the bigger deal
is that Paul felt like
he had been pushed so far
beyond what he could handle
that he despaired
and that's something
that's meant to resonate
with all of us
so what's despair?
John MacArthur broke it down this way
and this was one of the most
helpful explanations to me
he said
the word
he said
the root word in the Greek
is porous
which means passage
and that together
with the prefix de
means
no passage
it's to say
there is no exit
there's no way out
it's to be so overwhelmed
physically or mentally
that you let go
or release your grip on life
it's an awful space
it's like
drowning
some think of that
as the most horrendous
way to die
there's thrashing
and then eventually
your strength
is overcome
your inability
to do anything about it
and you
slowly sink
below the water
and you stop fighting
and you let go
but when we think about it
in the life of Paul
it seems worse
if not unfathomable
for a big extra here
Paul is no ordinary man
he's a Christian
of Christians
a pastor
to the pastors
he was called
and set apart
by God
to be an apostle
inspired by the Holy Spirit
to write much
of the New Testament
and bring the gospel
to the known world
if you're looking
for someone
that really understands
the gospel
who really
gets how it connects
to life and practice
Paul is that guy
more than any other guy
and so Paul's despair
is certainly
that his own strength
is gone
but it would seem
that he's also wrestling
with that
unutterable voice
of doubt
that maybe
his God's strength
is gone
or at least
insufficient
for this task
and so what does he do
well
he lets go
but God doesn't
it's right here
when Paul is at the end
of himself
when he's convinced
that he's received
the sentence of death
that all that he had
envisioned
yet to do
on this earth
that he felt
that God
had called him to do
was going to get cut short
that he lets go
and finds anew
that his God knows
his God is there
is sufficient
for the task
and more and more
for as Paul describes it
it wasn't an accident
that he found himself
in this place
it was according
to God's purpose
his design
his God
is in charge
here at the doorstep
of the end
of his life too
he says verse 9
but that was
to make us
God made us
that was to make us
rely not
on ourselves
but God
and specifically
the God
who raises the dead
and that point
is just as noteworthy
you see
death
is the ultimate
trump card
for life
for instance
what's your heart's desire
money
security
love
children
island paradise
not today
we're just suspended
in disbelief
it's not possible
and it sounds good
right
I mean
a whole lot
of problems
go away
happy life
our heart's desire
has been found
but there's a catch
it will cost you
your life
well in that case
well
it's not such
a good deal
right
in fact
it's instantly
a no deal
if we can't
have that stuff
with life
then what's the point
but you see
if God
is the God
who raises
the dead
who's thereby
unnecessarily
stronger than death
then not only
can he deliver us
from the ultimate
trump card
on our life
he can deliver us
everything
less than death
and that's the
realization
that infuses
Paul with
a supernatural
vitality
a bold sense
of almost
invincibility
as he continues
in verse 10
he says
he delivered us
from such a deadly
peril
and he will
deliver us
on him
we have set
our hope
that he will
deliver us again
I love that
it's a boldness
that doesn't
just live life
intentionally
so as to
make the most
out of the time
that we have
which we should
all do
but it is
future focused
past death
in such a way
that death
is not our
ultimate end
in other words
Paul has gained
such a sure
confidence
in the preserving
care and power
of his invincible
God
that he doesn't
fear the loss
of anything
even his life
because he knows
his God is able
and has determined
to return it
a hundredfold
and more
in the next
as Paul put it
in his letter
to the Philippians
indeed I count
everything as loss
because of the
surpassing worth
of knowing
Christ Jesus
my Lord
or perhaps even
more to the point
in 1 Peter
blessed be the
God and Father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ
according to his
great mercy
he has caused
us to be born
again
to a living hope
through the
resurrection
of Jesus Christ
from the dead
to an inheritance
that is imperishable
undefiled
and unfading
in other words
not only will God
deliver us
from such
a death
but in Christ
he will give us
all things
more than money
can buy
more love
more beauty
more than
an island paradise
more security
than Cheyenne
mountain bunker
and all that
without loss
or fading
forever
and so what's next
well Paul says
verse 11
go forth
and conquer
not exactly
he says
you must help
us by prayer
when I read
that I said
what
with such a
renewed sense
of vigor
and energy
why
why prayer
because
you see
we can't help
but pray
when we're
forced to rely
not on ourselves
but on God
that's one
of the beautiful
parts of
Damar Hamlin
in that incident
it was a
surreal moment
even watching it
on TV
for some
unexplained
unexpected
whatever
when this
perfectly healthy
giant of a
human being
collapsed on
the ground
a quick
sobriety
fell across
every player
coach
referee
fan
and spectator
and do you
know what
they did
it happened
so fast
so instinctively
it was like
it was
choreographed
but it
wasn't
they all
got down
on a
knee
they bowed
their heads
and they
prayed
and an
NFL stadium
broadcast
on live
television
became a
giant
revival
church
it was like
they knew
what to do
when they
knew there
was nothing
that they
could do
and so
what is
Paul really
showing us
here
well at
the most
basic level
when Paul
came face
to face
with the
end of
himself
and a
certain
sentence
of death
he saw
Christ
and through
him he
gained a
renewed
confidence
in his
invincible
God
you see
as fragile
people we
have an
instinctive
drive to
protect
ourselves
it's our
survival
instinct
it's why
we invest
in safe
cars
friendly
neighborhoods
savings
fitness
and nutrition
and that's
obviously
not all
bad
but
sometimes
we confuse
these things
as our
security
or as
invoking us
with independent
autonomy
and invincibility
on the other
hand we find
in Christ
this wonder
for he had
real
invincibility
and immortality
and he exchanged
that for
fragility
and mortality
and then when he
was faced with
the prospect
of certain
death
he didn't
turn to
self-reliance
self-protectionism
anxiety
or giving way
to the temptation
for relief
and escape
but through
prayer
he entrusted
himself
into the hands
of his father
in his dying
breath
he said
father into
your hands
I commit
my spirit
and his father
the invincible
God
who raises
the dead
raised him
from the dead
and so what
difference does
this make
well first
let's return
to Randy
from the
perspective
of this
world
Randy was
a great
man
and there's
truly much
to respect
in him
he handled
the reality
of death
with a lot
of grace
and maturity
but from a
Christian
perspective
as I read
that book
there was a
glaring omission
in his last
lecture
and he knew
it
it was
on purpose
even joked
about it
he said
this is not
about religion
or spirituality
or a deathbed
conversion
and then his
joke
though I did
buy a
Macintosh
which is
must have
been a PC
guy
you see
for Randy
death
was it
there was no
God in this
life
in his life
and therefore
there was no
after this
life
and that
obviously
had a profound
effect on how
he lived
his life
from his
perspective
life was about
how much
you could get
for as long
as you could
get it
it was about
realizing childhood
dreams
it was
carpe diem
seize the day
and there's
there's right
stuff about
some of those
perspectives
we should strive
to make the most
of everyday
waste
is sinful
but if tomorrow
and eternal life
are a certainty
then what we do
today
isn't as much
about today
as it is
about an eternal
tomorrow
and so
what do we
take away
from this
in the renewed
confidence
that God
is
that God
knows
that he
has the
power
and will
take care
of us
in death
and everything
less than
that
we need
to live
our lives
more out
of faith
in his
care
than
our own
it's the
difference
between
approaching
life
from the
perspective
of fragility
and temporality
versus
invincibility
and immortality
imagine that
before you
are two
doors
it's like
on the
price is
right
on the
top of
the
the left
door
your left
it says
why
oh
you
inside
is a
short
and fragile
life
it's
whatever
you can
get
for as
long
as
you
can
get
it
it's
all
up
to
you
and
after
a
little
while
you
die
it's
how
the
animals
live
on top
of the
door
on the
right
it says
h-i-m
him
inside
that door
is an
all-powerful
and personal
heavenly father
he loves
you
he did
not even
withhold
his only
son
to rescue
you
behind
that
door
it's
not
all
about
you
but
it
is
good
for
you
and
ultimately
everything
there
depends
not
on
you
but
him
and
finally
he
loves
you
so
much
that
he
will
not
withhold
everything
that
is
good
and
it
will
never
ever
end
and
so
which
do
you
choose
the
right
door
is
so
much
better
than
it
all
depends
on
you
and
yet
even
as
Christians
even
when
we
know
even
after
we
profess
we
know
the
door
on
the
right
is
better
is
real
and
the
door
on
the
left
is
a
lie
and
even
worse
than
it
looks
and
worse
than
it
looks
we
drift
again
and
that's
what
Paul
is
trying
to
show
us
here
it's
not
that
the
Christian
life
is
going
to
be
easy
we
all
know
it
isn't
but
that
our
invincible
God
has
more
power
than
the
hardest
it
can
be
and
therefore
everything
less
than
that
as
well
as
a
result
in
Christ
there
is
strength
not
just
to be
wise
stewards
of the
time
we
have
on
this
earth
to
make
the
most
of
it
but
to
boldly
prayerfully
and
faithfully
keep
striving
to
follow
after
Christ
to
keep
taking
step
after
step
even
through
pain
fear
and
uncertainty
even
through
the
valley
of
the
shadow
of
death
because
our
future
does
not
ultimately
depend
on
our
strength
but
his
as
Jesus
told
his
disciples
in
the
gospel
of
John
in
the
world
you
will
have
trouble
but
take
overcome
the
world
and
as
Paul
puts
it
a little
later
in
this
letter
this
light
momentary
affliction
is
preparing
for us
an eternal
weight
of glory
beyond
all
comparison
and
therefore
if
you're
not a
Christian
today
consider
the
difference
between
your
left
door
it
all
depends
on
me
delusion
and
the
right
door
a
true
reality
that
God
offers
everyone
that
will
come
to
him
in
Christ
choose
Christ
and
if
you're
a
Christian
be
renewed
like
Paul
in
the
confidence
that
our
invisible
God
is
faithful
he
delivered
us
from
such
a
deadly
peril
and
he
will
deliver
us
on
him
we
have
set
our
hope
that
he
will
deliver
us
again
let's
pray
dear
almighty
God
Lord
thank
you
for
your
word
thank
you
that
you
are
the
God
who
raises
the
dead
Lord
would
you
please
strengthen
our
faith
give
us
boldness
not
because
of
some
power
that
we
have
but
because
you
have
all
power
Lord
there
is
nothing
in
this
world
that
you
cannot
remedy
and
so
give
us
strength
in
that
Lord
to
follow
after
you
with
boldness
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen