No Maverick Molecules

This week I was struck by an interview I watched with former Nebraska senator Ben Sasse. Ben Sasse was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in December. He likely has only weeks or months to live. In these final days, he has done some heart-wrenching and inspiring interviews. Recently, Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes sat down with him and discussed politics, family, faith, and his diagnosis.

Toward the end of the interview, Scott asked Ben about his Christian faith. You might assume that a man with a family and so much potential would be angry at God about a diagnosis like this. But his answers were stunning.

He said he’s “super bummed” that he won’t be around for his family—but he also said they’ll be okay without him. In his words, they’re “rockstars.” Then Scott asked, “But it’s not a surprise to God? And God, you believe, has a plan?” Ben responded, profoundly and without hesitation, “Absolutely. There are no maverick molecules in the universe.”

How can Ben Sasse have that kind of unwavering faith and courage in the face of his approaching death? Because he knows this isn’t the end. At the risk of putting it too lightly, this is just a bump in the road. Cancer may be his reality today, but his future is resurrection.

For me, it was another powerful reminder of how central the resurrection is to the Christian life.

This Sunday, we’re closing out our series on the resurrection by looking at the end of time and our future bodily resurrection. We’ll see three powerful ways from the book of Daniel how it gives us hope in life’s darkest days.