Published by admin on 28 Sep 2018 at 02:33 pm
LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
When you went to bed last night, you probably expected to get up this morning, just like you have every other day of your life. But there’s always the “what if?”. What if you don’t wake up? Or what happens if you do wake up, then have a heart attack? Would there be time to get right with the LORD? There is a devil out there who specializes in “kill, steal, and destroy”, and he comes when you least expect him.
You may be saying, “Well, that’s not really a concern of mine right now.” But it doesn’t matter how old you are, the devil is still in the same business as always, that is, the “kill, steal, and destroy” business. So, it had BETTER be a concern for you right now! And he isn’t very particular who he calls upon, but he gives priority to God’s children, you can be sure of that.
I have a saying, that I like to be like lunchmeat: always ready. Well, about an hour ago or so, I woke up on the floor, and don’t know how I got there. Jenny said I was sitting on the sofa and just slumped over, and she thought I was looking at something on the floor. But then I tumbled off on the floor. The last thing I remember is a weird feeling and my heart stopped. No pain, Nothing more, no lights, no nothing. She said my eyes were open.
Right now, my neck is sore on one side, I must have hurt it falling. When I came around, the first thing I thought of was making sure my wife would be ok if I died, and went over our finances with her. If you haven’t done that with your loved ones, you need to “git ‘er’ done”, because when your number is up, well, it’s up.
I just found out firsthand that you never know when your number is up. I know for a fact my heart stopped, I felt it for a few seconds before dropping over. There was no flashing lights or heavenly chorus, just a really weird feeling and I was gone. When I came to, I didn’t know where I was, what day it was, or anything, but I couldn’t move for a while, and my first recollection was that Jenny was over me praying.
If this was your last few minutes of this life, would you be ready to meet the LORD? Apparently the LORD is not done with me here after all, I don’t know. But one thing I do know, we just don’t know when our number is up. I remember my first words telling Jenny if I have anything against her, I forgive. If I was leaving, I wanted things to be in order, and she said the same to me. This will be a day I will remember the rest of my life. Don’t you dare live with unforgiveness, or anger, because you have no promise you’ll wake up the next time. I almost didn’t. I believe I can honestly say I have no unforgiveness against anyone, and to those I’ve sinned against in my past, all I can say is, please forgive me, because if you don’t, it will affect YOUR future as well.
I am most blessed to have come out of this, and with my mind and the ability to think and type and warn everyone, we have no guarantee of our next breath. If there’s someone you need to make amends with, do it without delay, for eternity can come VERY quickly, in a heartbeat, or rather the lack of it.
To those I have known all these years in the ministry, I say, there is no warning when your heart just stops beating like mine did. There’s not time to get right with God, you’d better BE right when that moment comes. Why I’m still here, I don’t know, but most likely because Jenny prayed for me. If this helps ANYONE, I’m so very happy. Until next time, may God exceedingly bless YOU!
Dee on 29 Sep 2018 at 7:29 am #
Thank you for a great message Pastor. We serve a mighty God. Even though I know that I had to be reminded. I pray for the salvation of my husband. He says he is a Christian but nothing in his life reveals that. I can’t possibly know if he prays, because that is personal unless it’s aloud. He does not read his bible. He does not attend church. He does not appear to even really discuss the Lord. It is sad because we have only been married 4.5 years and I feel as though I made a huge mistake. He comes from a large family most of whom love the Lord. Yet there are no boundaries with them and our marriage/home. His mother stays with us 3 months at a time and doesnt really acknowledge my own family or friends. His sister comes in dictating how my husband should do things in our home. He listens. She goes out with us often as a third wheel. His brother asked me for $150K but not his own brother. I know how God feels about marriage. I love my husband but I really do not feel he loves me. I believe he married for convenience not love. I say convenience because I never ask him for anything, I pay for most everything concerning our home, and I take care of the upkeep of the home. He does nothing except mow the lawn and entertain his family. This is causing me so much headache, anxiety and grief. Please agree with me in prayer for his salvation, and that I may not harbor resentment, or unforgiveness towards him and his family members for the way they treat me and our marriage.
OLMEDO TIRONE on 29 Sep 2018 at 9:51 am #
IM GLAD THE LORD LEFT YOU WITH US FOR MORE TIME GOD BLESS YOU