Former Senator Ben Sasse was looking forward to many more productive years. After beginning his professional career with two of the most prestigious management consulting firms in the world, he represented the state of Nebraska in the U.S. Senate from 2015 to 2023. He then served as president of the University of Florida from 2023 to 2024.
Then, just before Christmas 2025, at age 53, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, cancer in the pancreas doesn’t always reveal itself immediately, which means by the time a person senses there’s a problem, it’s too late. Ben’s cancer has already spread to five different organs, and he is on a high dosage of morphine with probably only months to live.
But, unlike many people, Ben isn’t afraid to talk about death, which has been a comfort to his wife, Melissa, and their three children, ages 14 to 24.
Perhaps hearing him speak about death will provide comfort to you as well. I recently spent time with Ben and recorded our conversation about mortality and our hope in Heaven through Jesus Christ. I’m airing our conversation on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
When we first sat down together, I knew we would have an honest, raw conversation about morality, but I wondered if I would have encouragement of any kind to offer him. Instead, his perspective on the hope that sustains him in the midst of his suffering encouraged me.
He said, “We often come to a feast around a table thinking of ourselves first, which is why even our most lavish meals are mere crumbs. In Heaven, we’ll sit at a table, and there will be joy and peace and fulfillment because Jesus sits on the throne, and we, His sons and daughters, will eat and drink deeply from His goodness.”
If you would like to know more about having a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to read ourfree online booklet called, “Coming Home: An Invitation to Join God’s Family,” which explains what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
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