More Alive Than Ever!

If you've been following this blog, you know that I received an urgent call from my parents last week. My Uncle Junior took a turn for the worse and lapsed into a coma. I headed to Paducah, KY and got to see him late Wednesday evening. He was struggling for every breath.

As I watched him I found myself stuggling too--wanting to do something, anything to help. I desperately wanted to take away all his pain--all the pain my cousins Karen and Gary and my Aunt Daphene were feeling, after all they'd been on the "front line" so to speak for the past 6 months. Yet I felt helpless. That night I prayed my butt off as I cried out to the LORD. Thank goodness the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, I'm not sure I would have been able to get out any words through the tears.

The next morning we got "the call." My uncle had passed away. We quickly hurried back to the hospital. He was still there. No, let me correct that. His body was still there. Since he was lifeless, the struggle to breathe was gone. He was finally at peace. And that was so evident from his body. His face was turned upward. It looked like his spirit had just slipped out of his body.

Although on the surface this story may seem like the end of the story, actually it's just the beginning.

You see, a young, country pastor (interestingly not my uncle's pastor) spent lots of time with him during the last couple of months. They spent countless hours talking and becoming friends. Through friendship this pastor introduced my uncle to the real Jesus--the one that is alive and active, the one that died on the cross for ours sins, the one who seeks out his lost sheep. And my uncle's life forever changed when he invited Christ into his heart. Can I get a couple of Hallelujahs??

What make this story all the more interesting is that my uncle attended the same church regularly for the past 40 years. I didn't know he wasn't saved. I imagine most people didn't. How many pastors had just "assumed" he was a Christian? It makes me wonder how many other people that attend church with us from week to week, sit next to us, worship with us, attend potlucks with us, you name it, don't know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And we stay silent because we either don't take the time or are afraid to ask the hard questions--the important questions.

All it took was the boldness of one country preacher to change my Uncle Junior's life forever. No alter call, dynamic sermon, or religious conference. Simply the overwhelming love and sharing from one man to another. I'm absolutely sure my uncle is in Heaven, rejoicing with my sweet Jesus. And although I'll miss him, I'm rejoicing too.

I'm equally sure my uncle Junior would attest to what Dwight L. Moody said: "One day you'll read in the papers that I've died. Don't believe a word of it! I'll be more alive than ever."

Good-bye for now Uncle Junior, I'll catch you on the other side!