Saved by Grace... How often do we hear this term? But have we really meditated on what it means to be saved by God's Grace and Mercy?
Here is a true testimony that I am telling as a person who was part of this amazing story, but certainly was not the main character. For the sake of not putting out any real names, I will refer to this person as Henry. Henry was not a Christian man and certainly did not read nor understand The Bible.
It was several years ago, before my husband was a pastor, that I received the call that Henry was in the hospital in a medically induced coma. He apparently had various serious issues going on at the same time. He was dealing with a blood infection, high triglycerides, pneumonia, meningitis, and one other thing that I do not seem to recall. When my husband and I arrived, there was a lot of family in the ICU with him, but when we said we were going to pray for him, the family left. All that was left behind was Henry's son, his mother... and us. While I imagine others prayed for his healing, I found myself praying for God's mercy upon him. The overwhelming feeling that we were all praying in intercession for this man's life on earth to be spared.
The next day we went to visit him again in the ICU. He awoke suddenly out of his coma and asked to speak to my husband. He couldn't speak but was making hand gestures that left my husband trying to guess what Henry was saying. It was almost like playing charades. It was not until a napkin and a pen were placed in his hands, that we were all finally beginning to understand.
He wrote of a place where time did not exist, and spoke of an orange river. We were all deep in trying to decipher what he scribbled on the piece of napkin when the nurse came in and threw us all out! It was almost like a bad show that leaves you hanging at the worst moment. The next day came, and we went to visit him once more. He once again was attempting to communicate with us something. Once again we tried to have him write it; paper and pen were placed in his hands. Keep in mind, he was supposed to be in an induced coma but he would awaken to tell us of what he saw prior to us all praying for him. The next thing he wrote gave more detail about the orange river he was floating in.
He wrote... I heard people's loud screams but I decided I would not scream; I would just accept what was going to happen. I could feel the gnashing of teeth coming at me. Everything that I was, was being stripped off of me. My character, the things that made me who I was, were being torn off of me like someone stripped of his/her garments. I thought this was it when all of a sudden a huge hand came out from above with a very loud voice that said, "Not this one". I felt myself being lifted up out of the river; and as I was being lifted out, I felt one of those creatures with gnashing teeth jump high enough to scratch my back.
It was after a bit after a week in ICU that his body finally recovered and he was moved to a private room. Of course, all the family gathered to see him. It was there that we asked him if he recalled any of what he had written during the time he was supposed to be in a coma. He did not recall any of what he had said, but he was shown the notes he had written. What was even further strange was that the nurses were arguing amongst each other because of a scratch that appeared on Henry's back. Each nurse blamed the other nurse. In the position he was resting in the hospital bed, he would not have been able to physically reach that part of his back.
Ultimately, Henry allowed us to pray for him again during our visit to his room at the hospital. He perspired profusely and said he felt very hot during prayer. We could only believe that he was feeling Holy Spirit and divine healing in his body. He accepted Christ as his savior on that day.
I wish I could tell you that Henry lived a holy and righteous life through Christ and that he took care of the second chance God had given him, but the truth is... Henry did none of that. He returned to his old ways and seemed to have forgotten his entire experience. I have always questioned... how does anyone forget a moment like that? A moment that shows God's mercy and love in such a way, that you were literally pulled out of the enemy's hands! All I can do is share this true story with you and encourage you to never dismiss the amazing opportunities God gives you. He loves you! Don't ever forget that.
Here is a true testimony that I am telling as a person who was part of this amazing story, but certainly was not the main character. For the sake of not putting out any real names, I will refer to this person as Henry. Henry was not a Christian man and certainly did not read nor understand The Bible.
It was several years ago, before my husband was a pastor, that I received the call that Henry was in the hospital in a medically induced coma. He apparently had various serious issues going on at the same time. He was dealing with a blood infection, high triglycerides, pneumonia, meningitis, and one other thing that I do not seem to recall. When my husband and I arrived, there was a lot of family in the ICU with him, but when we said we were going to pray for him, the family left. All that was left behind was Henry's son, his mother... and us. While I imagine others prayed for his healing, I found myself praying for God's mercy upon him. The overwhelming feeling that we were all praying in intercession for this man's life on earth to be spared.
The next day we went to visit him again in the ICU. He awoke suddenly out of his coma and asked to speak to my husband. He couldn't speak but was making hand gestures that left my husband trying to guess what Henry was saying. It was almost like playing charades. It was not until a napkin and a pen were placed in his hands, that we were all finally beginning to understand.
He wrote of a place where time did not exist, and spoke of an orange river. We were all deep in trying to decipher what he scribbled on the piece of napkin when the nurse came in and threw us all out! It was almost like a bad show that leaves you hanging at the worst moment. The next day came, and we went to visit him once more. He once again was attempting to communicate with us something. Once again we tried to have him write it; paper and pen were placed in his hands. Keep in mind, he was supposed to be in an induced coma but he would awaken to tell us of what he saw prior to us all praying for him. The next thing he wrote gave more detail about the orange river he was floating in.
He wrote... I heard people's loud screams but I decided I would not scream; I would just accept what was going to happen. I could feel the gnashing of teeth coming at me. Everything that I was, was being stripped off of me. My character, the things that made me who I was, were being torn off of me like someone stripped of his/her garments. I thought this was it when all of a sudden a huge hand came out from above with a very loud voice that said, "Not this one". I felt myself being lifted up out of the river; and as I was being lifted out, I felt one of those creatures with gnashing teeth jump high enough to scratch my back.
It was after a bit after a week in ICU that his body finally recovered and he was moved to a private room. Of course, all the family gathered to see him. It was there that we asked him if he recalled any of what he had written during the time he was supposed to be in a coma. He did not recall any of what he had said, but he was shown the notes he had written. What was even further strange was that the nurses were arguing amongst each other because of a scratch that appeared on Henry's back. Each nurse blamed the other nurse. In the position he was resting in the hospital bed, he would not have been able to physically reach that part of his back.
Ultimately, Henry allowed us to pray for him again during our visit to his room at the hospital. He perspired profusely and said he felt very hot during prayer. We could only believe that he was feeling Holy Spirit and divine healing in his body. He accepted Christ as his savior on that day.
I wish I could tell you that Henry lived a holy and righteous life through Christ and that he took care of the second chance God had given him, but the truth is... Henry did none of that. He returned to his old ways and seemed to have forgotten his entire experience. I have always questioned... how does anyone forget a moment like that? A moment that shows God's mercy and love in such a way, that you were literally pulled out of the enemy's hands! All I can do is share this true story with you and encourage you to never dismiss the amazing opportunities God gives you. He loves you! Don't ever forget that.
Posted in Spiritual Growth
Posted in died and came back, hell, God\\\'s grace, death and revival, near death experience, God\\\'s mercy
Posted in died and came back, hell, God\\\'s grace, death and revival, near death experience, God\\\'s mercy
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