Thoughts for another day

Oct. 22, 2012.

Today's verse: Is. 49:16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Jack was on the hospital bed, pipes and machines connected everywhere.  Though in pain, there was a certain numbness; he wanted to give in to that numbness and go into limbo as he knew deep within, he wasn't going to survive that motorcycle accident.  Finally, after all his life of daredevilry, the laws of justice had caught up with him even as he crashed into the truck ahead.  His life of just 32 years whirled before him in a flash: the debauchery and filth that accompanied it, made him nauseous even in the limp condition he was.  It seemed to him as being a different person on that hospital bed

Pain, nerve wracking pain, arose at the least movement he made and in that pain, the word 'God' came on his lips, a word he shunned all his life.  For his circle of degenerate friends, God was nonexistent; period.  His mind went to his childhood friend Joe whom he had recently met and ridiculed as holy Joe.  He had felt awkward to even talk to Joe for Joe had nothing on his lips except God.  This God, that God and all God.  In fact, Joe's 'God talk' rankled him so, that he asked him to shut up and leave God out of their conversation.  But Joe couldn't and though Jack wanted to move on, something made him stick to that restaurant seat where Joe had joined him and told him about God's love and mercy. 

In the haze of his aching mind, Jack could clearly remember one line that Joe mentioned in that very tiring conversation:  See he had told him, God has carved you in the palm of His hand!  Jack had laughed heartily for he found it so funny.  He sneered at Joe saying, 'Man, if God has carved each person's name on His palm, His palm would be a mess of names and aching with the pain of carving!'  But now that same line stuck in his mind.  With great effort he was able to direct his thought away from the pain and to God.  He said, 'God, I've always ridiculed you, but if what Joe said is right, then forgive me for being such a pain and for mocking you so much.  Now if you will, take me away for I'm suffering so much.'  The nurse, attending on him suddenly saw a light on Jack's face and his otherwise contorted face smoothed to bear a smile: a genuine and bright smile.  Then Jack's heart stopped beating and his pulse fell but the smile didn't leave his face.  The transaction was complete. God had once again proved that He keeps His Word.