The Visitor (Day 3 from Cleansing Thoughts)

 Child of God, do not misunderstand. I am not saying people are not healed because they do not have faith, nor am I saying we should not see a doctor. The Word even tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that there is a time appointed unto men to die, and again in Ecclesiastes, "A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die" (Ecclesiastes 4:1-2, NKJV). But what I am saying is even when death comes, because of the resurrection power of Christ, it has lost its sting! To the believer, guilt should not play a part in the death. I believe in my heart that God would not want His children to suffer in this way. Grieve at the loss of a loved one, yes, but not suffer from guilt. Guilt enters into the mind through the power of suggestion because of something we have failed to do or have done that was forbidden. These warm loving people I had just come to know had done nothing, yet the power of suggestion was placing a heavy load of guilt into their minds. They needed to experience the peace of God, which passes all understanding of their loss, not guilt.

   Not wanting Bid's wife to be alone when the time came to remove him from the life-support system, Mom and I decided to return to the hospital to be with her. Bid's wife told us when she saw him last, he seemed flushed and felt warm for the first time since the EMTs had brought him to the hospital. The strain of the last several days was showing on her as she left the waiting room to be with him for the last time, but when she returned, her whole countenance had changed to an expression of bewilderment and hope. Bid had moved for the first time! As the nurse looked up she noticed activity on the monitor regulating his breathing. The hand of God had touched this man and was back with us again. He was removed from life support, and three days later, he was moved to the continuing care unit at the hospital. 

    But the hand of God had not stopped there. Grandma had been touched as well! Throughout the afternoon and early evening, her vital signs got stronger. It was such a wonderful feeling to witness the long faces of grief change to laughter as each family member shared her progress. Three days later, as I walked past her room, I saw her sitting in a chair having her dinner and speaking with her great-grandson. 

    Even though my dad's condition was not as serious a the others in the unit, I was grateful that he also received a touch from the Lord. A few days later, we moved him to the continual care unit as well. The Lord answered my prayers, and dad was given more time to get his life in order. You see, I could not bear the thought of letting him go before he was given every opportunity to accept the Lord. I would remain standing on God's Word in faith that all my family would be saved.

    The Word of God had not returned void but had accomplished what the doctors had determined to be impossible. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26, NKJV). The ICU had had a visitor as the Great Physician His people.

    Healing. Miracles. The gifts of the Spirit are subjects that bring questions to our minds. Is it for today? Does God still use peopele as He did in biblical times to manifest himself in this way? Whenever I am faced with these questions, I pray these words from Mark 9:23 and 24 (NKJV), "'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief 'for you have said in your Word, 'All things are possible to him who believes.'"

    Jesus told us in John 14 that those who believe in Him would be able to accomplish even greater works than He did when He walked among us. I cannot why God chose to bring these two individuals back from the brink of death, but no one can deny that He did. The families were only grateful that He had had, even if for a short while. Personally, I was happy to see the guilt removed from their shoulders and peace returned to their hearts. Perhaps it was for this reason alone that the hand of God touched these two lives; that is something we may never have the answer to. All I know is that it was the most awesome experience I ever witnessed and one I will always remember.

    Seven days later, quietly and peacefully, Bid went home to be with the Lord. Grandma was granted her final request to return to her home until her time came when she too would make her final journey to be reunited with her beloved husband. As for my dad, he passed away several years later at the age of eight-one. He had accepted Christ not long before and our family relationships were restored. I do not pretend to understand the mind of God. I cannot answer your questions as to why Bid's healing was not complete here upon this earth; however, I do believe with all my heart he is now fully healed and with the Lord. I also believe the burden of guilt was removed from his wife, so she was able to say her final goodbye to her husband with no regrets. I can tell you this much: the hand of God touched these two lives, and in so doing, their testimony will give hope to so many others who will one day seek the Great Physician on their knees in prayer.

    If you are facing a time in your life or the life of a loved one and all that can bring you through is the hand of God, then I encourage you to seek Him and believe with all your heart and soul that His Word is true. I cannot promise you that you will receive the answer that you want to hear, but I can promise you He will answer, Until then, Jesus has left us with these words of comfort: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3, NKJV).

    Let's pray. "Heavenly Father, we do not come to you asking why, but we come seeking peace of mind during this time of need. It says in Your Word that, 'The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,' and that we are to 'pray for one another that they might be healed' [James 5:16, NKJV]. Therefore, we believe in our heart that You will watch over Your Word to perform it and that by Your stripes we are healed. Father, we accept Your answer knowing that even in death, we have the victory for we know to be absent from the body is to be present with You."