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Sometimes faith comes unbidden. It is just those times that you realize just what faith is. I'm not speaking of knowledge. There is a difference between knowing and realizing. And it's actually this realization that defines faith. In this story the realization came in a lightning like flash, "no problem for a God that great!" Then after this experience, I realized that God had orchestrated the entire situation, taking advantage of the enemy's attempt to subdue me. He turned Satan's curse into a blessing for many, hopefully including you, dear reader. (I've had to fill in some details that memory didn't provide.) THE GASKET COINCIDENCE "Doc," I said, "I think I've blown a gasket." He checked me and gave the grim report. "You have got the worst hernias I have ever seen. You'll have to get them sowed up soon. Until then, you will have to come in here regularly and let me put you back together or you'll die of gangrene. And you can forget the standard treatments. They'll only make your condition more dangerous." I started thinking: He might as well have told me I had a terminal disease. I couldn't afford weekly visits or an operation. I'd probably croak within a year. At least when I did, my wife would be in better shape because the insurance would take care of all of our debt. Still, I thought I'll be careful and try to live long enough to create some ongoing income for her. I'd better not tell her how bad the situation is because she'll want to spend the house away on an operation and leave herself with nothing. "Jack," Doc said, as if waking me from a nap, "You've become quiet. You OK?" "Oh, I was just thinking about a problem." I didn't want to admit I was in such a bad fix. "How about the cough?" Before I left, he gave me a shot of eucalyptus (an old-fashioned remedy) that quickly stopped my cough. That's what started all this, the cough, brought on by too much stress and not enough sleep. It began a week ago. I was leaning against a bench in my little plant. It was 10:00 P.M.. stillness and darkness blanked the whole industrial area. All the other businesses around were locked and dark. Tiredness pervaded every corner of the room. I had come in at 6:40 that morning already tired from weeks of pushing hard. My chest hurt with congestion and I started to cough a little. I had hoped this would be the last day of long hours. But I still had a mountain of work. "I better leave before I'm too tired to get home.". I had been getting more exhausted and sicker every day for a week. I woke up between 1:00 and 2:00 A.M., coughing. My chest hurt worse. I was sweating from the effort of coughing and gagging. I continued to cough for about two hours. The alarm barely woke me at 5:30. I had to go in. I could get some things invoiced if I didn't slack. At work, every movement was an effort. I fell asleep at my desk, only to be awakened by congestion. That's how it went for a few more days. The cough continued to intensify to where nothing would even remotely control it. Then I had the most terrible coughing fit I've ever had. I thought I was going to die. My whole body agonized. Suddenly, like a lightning bolt, there was an intense pain, down low. Now the persistent cough was both exhausting and excruciating. I was going to have to buy a doctor visit. I made the appointment. Now this news, I wished I had been sensible and seen him before developing an expensive, life-threatening problem. A simple shot could have saved this grief. I decided my only resource was prayer. I believed that God healed people. I probably didn't qualify, but decided to give it a try anyway. So, I went to a Wednesday night church service. I would ask the pastor to pray for me. I sat and stood in pain through about 45 minutes of song and announcements. Then the pastor got into a remarkable sermon on the book of Revelation and other parts of the Bible that pre-wrote history. I sat in absolute awe of the greatness and power of God. I remember one thought in particular. Actually it was more of a realization: These hernias would be no problem for a God who is that great. Immediately I felt a warmth come all over me and the pain ceased. I was overwhelmed with thoughts of the love and power of God. I didn't ask for prayer. I guess I forgot. Driving home was great. I didn't agonize with each bump. I didn't even notice them. There was no pain during my snack, no pain going to bed; And I slept better than a cat in a soft chair. I couldn't wait to tell Doc. I knew he would be impressed. "Let's take a look." He probed and poked and shook his head. "You're as sound as I am! Something has definitely happened. The hernias are gone. Yes, indeed you have been healed." So, I got to tell him again about Jesus, only this time he was more interested. What a coincidence : The minister had just the right sermon at just the right time. My gaskets blew at just the right time to give Doc an overnight proof of God's love and power. It all came at just the time my wife and I needed a shot of confidence in God instead of ourselves. And somehow I had the grit to go sit in a hard pew. What Satan intended for harm, God turned to blessing. Obviously, I don't believe in coincidences. There was a lesson in this. I must confess though, I have had to learn it more than a couple of times. It's this: When you're up against unbeatable odds, when the fight is over, it's time to slow down and remember who Jesus is. It's time to turn from your own miserable self and focus on him. I also learned that it's dumb to even think about personal qualifications. He does the qualifying; it's his boundless love. Trying to understand, measure or justify that love is pointless. It will just overheat your mind and blow your intellectual gaskets. His love is just there. It's always there. By the way, I asked Him about my work and He showed me the problem in just two words. It was easily remedied and I got some serious sleep. That's another neat story. |
