|
|
||
|
Several years ago, I underwent quadruple bypass surgery. The operation and recovery were going well until my heart started to work against itself. Fibrillation, I believe it is called. While I was due to be discharged the next morning, that all changed. Using medication, a week later, they were still unable to get my heart to beat regularly. I was failing and knew something must soon be done or I would surely die. The decision was made to do a cardio-conversion. Prior to the procedure, several people from my church stopped by to visit and pray. Among them were two pastors. Dr. Kenneth Leestma read the following Scripture to me, I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel these way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:3-10 Ken prayed that these promises would be applied to my life. A short time later, Dr. Glenn DeMaster stopped by and offered a powerful prayer for this promise to apply to me. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need Hebrews 4:15-16. Through the grace of God the prayers of these two men and the Scriptures they read changed my life. I carried a vision with me as I was transported to the procedure room the closest representation of which is at the top of this page. Nothing can adequately convey the awesome splendor and brilliance of that scene. It's magnificence is beyond description. Yet, every day I carry it with me as a reminder of what was to transpire. I was somewhere above looking down into the courtyard of the Temple of the Lord God Almighty. There, I saw me, naked, running into His Holy Temple toward the majesty and brilliance of His overwhelming throne. That I could not see beyond its massiveness. It was obscured by its own brilliance. There I was before His throne. Then into the procedure room with my wife, Donna, at my side. I was positioned, wires and electrodes and monitoring devices were in place. The two assistants were discussing, in medical terms that I could only partially understand that my heart was doing strange things. Monitors on the left side of my body were giving signals not in agreement with those on the other. They thought it would be a good idea if the doctor showed up rather soon. I lifted my head slightly. There at my feet was Donna seated exactly beneath a large crucifix. We waited. The doctor arrived, observed the monitors and spoke in "doctor talk" to the assistants. Donna was asked to wait outside. He moved behind my head to my right side, seated himself on a stool, spoke to me and indicated he was going to take my pulse at the carotid artery. As the two fingers of his right hand touched my neck, a jolt went through my body sufficiently strong that had I been standing, I would have been knocked to the ground. He looked at the monitors and in a subdued tone of surprise told me and the attendants that the procedure would not be necessary, my heart was in perfect rhythm. He got up, graciously and unceremoniously left the room. Donna came back in and I was wheeled back to my room to be discharged the next morning. I believe that all time is borrowed. That day, I was given an extension on my loan. My prayer had been for that, if it was according to His will. I am convinced that my appointed mission is not finished and He will help me with its completion. From that day, I set the course for the rest of my life. With the glorification of God as my compass, I have sought to find the direction, strength, spiritual resources and wisdom to do His will. I pray for knowledge, insight and discernment. Daily, I study His Word. That mission is to the "church scattered" and the "church gathered." Part of it is reflected in the articles found in the pages of this DISCIPLE newsletter. Mine is not a perfect mission any more than one to be finished. It is only one full of human frailty with no desire or ambition than to serve Him as best as humanly possible within those most imperfect limitations. The vision does not fade. In His Service, jim grimm |
||
|
TATEMENT OF FAITH E BELIEVE:
|
||
|
|