Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
“Just lean back and gun it for all you’re worth, and it’ll make it up and over the jump... c’mon, you can do it!”
Such a challenge, such excitement! He leaned back and gunned it hard. The cycle roared up the sand ramp... but his timing was off. The motorcycle went straight up... and then flipped over backward. His helmet flew off. In landing, his head took the full force of the crash! Time came to a sudden halt for Chad. He had been having such fun on his motorcycle.
The sad, loving eyes of his father studied the young face, so still, with no expression, there on the hospital bed. His eyelids remained closed, never flickering, almost as if he had died. “Chad, Chad, my boy,” he groaned. “Oh, Chad, can you hear me? Say something, son. Do you hurt? I’m praying; we are all praying.”
But there was no answer, no movement.
Many tubes were connected to Chad—lifelines which had been applied so hopefully by doctors and nurses. “He is young... he may survive... or....” The doctor’s words hung unfinished. Why should he add more anguish to the parents’ hearts by predicting the future of this young man.
All the money, all the skill of doctors, and time, and equipment were nothing compared with the love of those who cared and prayed for Chad.
There is Someone who loves us very much, too. “For God so loved the world [you and me], that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).
Death-like, Chad slept on. All mankind is dead in trespasses and sin. How can we awaken you, lost one, to your danger—eternity is just ahead! You have no promise of tomorrow. “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14). He waits. He waits for you to say, as did Saul of Tarsus that day when the Light shone into his heart, “Who art Thou, Lord?” and, “What wilt Thou have me to do?” Acts 9:5,65And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:5‑6). The answer: “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:66Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6).
Nurses continued working over Chad day and night, frequently checking the life-support systems that were keeping him alive. There was no change—he slept on.
“Chad, Chad, this is Tim... do you know me? I’m your brother,” sobbed the young man who had encouraged him to make the jump. The only answer was the throb of the equipment that kept Chad breathing.
While there is life, there is hope. The many people praying for Chad never stopped, but after eight weeks his life seemed to be slipping away. Friends and relatives came and went. Neighbors spoke encouraging words.
One morning his mother walked down the now familiar hallway in the hospital. She paused at the door and prayed a silent prayer—“Oh, Lord, give me courage, give me strength.” She walked quickly into the room and went straight to Chad’s bedside. Taking his hand, she studied the quiet form of her boy... no change. The sight of the tube in his throat and tubes in his nose and arms was still hard to handle. But even as she looked, she saw a slight movement of his lips. Quickly she bent down in time to hear his faint “Hi, Mom.”
Oh joy! Those words were the sweetest music in all the world to her at that moment. “Yes, Chad, this is Mom. Oh, thank God you are better this morning!”
The extreme effort to speak had exhausted him; he was “out” again. But it was the start to recovery. Although Chad still had a long road ahead, he had come out of the coma. How thankful they all were!
What a comfort it was to his parents to know their son Chad had accepted Christ as his Saviour early in life. If he didn’t make it, they knew he would be in heaven with his Lord and Saviour.
But if it were you in that hospital bed, could your parents be as sure about you? Do not put off accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Time is so short, and accidents can happen so quickly. The Bible says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:33And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3).
ML-05/29/1983