I have one last story to tell. While Shon was preaching about the ability of those suffering with barrenness — not just the inability to have children but any kind of burden or unfulfilled want, I was drawn back to an event that happened while I was in law school. We had just moved to Tuscaloosa and only recently placed membership at the University Church of Christ. An announcement was made asking for volunteers to sit with a dying member of the church, a former elder whose lung condition left him barely able to breath and with just a few days to live.
This wasn’t a comfortable sort of thing for me to do. I had never been around death or even serious illness, but I’d just graduated from college and figured I was supposed to do adult sorts of things. And so I volunteered.
The gentleman was bedridden and so ill that he could only talk while on pure oxygen. He moved in and out consciousness as I sat there. He only said a few words, but in a moment of strength and lucidity, he told me that he knew he was about to die. He said he was ready and looking forward to it. He then quoted —
(Tit 3:4-7 KJV) 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
He said he knew he could never earn heaven but he had confidence in God’s grace. He knew he’d soon be in heaven. And he smiled and lapsed back into unconsciousness, exhausted by those few words. He died the next day.
I’d learned about grace at Lipscomb, but until then, I wasn’t sure I believed it. It was a tough doctrine for me, having grown up in North Alabama. But at that moment, I knew it had to be true. I wanted to be able to die smiling at ease in the grace of God. And I knew a lot of people who needed to hear the same message.
Here’s the point. No matter how tough your circumstances, you can make a difference. You can be so sick that you’re bedridden and barely able to gasp for breath — and still change a life. You can touch someone. And you never know how many others that person may help because of your words.
Never underestimate the influence of God through yourself. You can do good even the day before you die.
As Shon said, no matter how barren your live may seem, you can still be a blessing to others — and you’ll never know the full impact of your influence until you arrive at the pearly gates. When we get there, many of us will be astonished at what God has done through us.
My prayer is that God in Christ and the lives of God’s children become first and foremost in the worship and work of other congregations as they have in the University Church of Christ!
sometimes bro doubt is moved by gentle nudges by a good father that knows what we need.
and in my case
i like Jonah.
have been puked up on so many proverbial beaches,”AND lived”,
IN “MY SEARCH to remove ALL doubt.
HEAR I AM just happy
to understand the the fathers story of faithfulness to his very good.
I WON’T GO ON
THANK YOU JAY
P.S.
IT TAKES WHAT IT TAKES ,
TO LEARN THE FATHER IS TRULY OUR HELPER,
AND IF THEY HAVE MY BACK,(AS I NOW CLEARLY SEE)
I CAN CLOSE MY EYES AND NOT MISS A STEP.
🙂
BLESSINGS
12:2 Look, God is my deliverer!2
I will trust in him3 and not fear.
For the Lord gives me strength and protects me;4
he has become my deliverer.”5
12:3 Joyfully you will draw water
from the springs of deliverance.6
12:4 At that time7 you will say:
“Praise the Lord!
Ask him for help!8
Publicize his mighty acts among the nations!
Make it known that he is unique!9
12:5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things,
let this be known10 throughout the earth!
12:6 Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion,
for the Holy One of Israel11 acts mightily12 among you!”
I have been amazed and blessed to learn of how a few words I spoke almost casually have influenced the course of someone’s life.
It is very humbling to see how God can use simple things we say or do to help those who need help.
Jay, I’m sure the brother of whom you write had no idea of the impact on you – or if he even realized who you were. But what he said and the circumstances in which he said it helped you to become a blessing to many! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Jerry
Jay…not sure why but when I read this I thought of Stephen looking up into heaven and seeing Jesus standing, ready to receive him… The Peace which passes all understanding really is…. Thanks for sharing.
I have loved your last two posts about church services last Sunday. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
Thank you Jay!