Telling The Story

As I lay hours on end in my hospital bed unable to speak because of my breathing tube and too weak and exhausted to write or read much, I had a lot of time to think about what I call my “parallel journey.”

If you’ve read much of the early days of my blog, you know that my “journey” was an experience that arose from my being physically near death over a period of several days.  Though in a medically induced coma, I was none the less vividly aware of a different state of being and given insight into the reality of the spiritual realm of darkness that exists around us.

Many people have had what they believed was a look into heaven through near-death experiences and have written about them.  But apparently the Lord wanted me to see the reality of the actively at work dark side of the spiritual realm in our world.    “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  (1 John 5:19)

The Lord showed me a swiftly flowing overview of past ages in the form of ruined cities strewn with specks of debris, each one of which I understood to be the lost soul of a person trampled into the ancient streets. Through it He has motivated me to share a warning and the good news that anyone who trusts in Jesus will escape that realm of lies, fear, punishment and destruction.   I’m convinced now that what I experienced was not hell itself, by any means, but rather an intermediate stage for those who are dying or have just died.

I wanted to share my story with many in the hospital who attended me, but I was physically unable to do so most of my stay.  I’m sure I needed time to sort out everything that happened and to develop a coherent way of sharing my experience to communicate the Gospel effectively.

Since being discharged from the hospital I have had many opportunities with doctors and medical professionals to ask about their relationship with Christ.  The Lord gave me a simple question to ask that always seems to come across well.  As I am the patient, I am in a relationship of need with them and they never seem to object when I ask if they mind my asking them a personal question.   My question is this:  Do you know that Jesus loves you?

This sets up a couple of options.  If they say yes, (most do) then I ask how they know.  If they really do know Jesus loves them, they have a clear story they will gladly tell.  If their answer is vague or evasive, I usually say, “I think everyone’s story is different and enjoy hearing them.”  If time and openness permit, I then can share how I know He loves me by telling my story of what He has done for me, beginning with my physical rescue from death and then of my eternal salvation through His work on the cross.

What works for me may not be the way God chooses to work with you.  But I encourage you to ask Him for a simple question that gets to the point without being a turn-off and for guidance in how to follow it up with your own personal story of His saving work in your life. 

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect – 1 Peter 3:15 NIV