The Gift

Post date: Jan 26, 2015 2:13:17 AM

Does God really exist? This is a question that I struggled with for years until unexpected circumstances jarred open the door to the spirit realm. I’m not a person who is easily persuaded, however, after personally experiencing Gods’ supernatural power my perspective changed.

In 1980 I was employed by a printing company where I worked as an assistant on a massive 3 story catalogue-producing press. The first level measured approximately 20-25 feet from the floor; a catwalk provided mobility around the press; a metal railing surrounded its perimeter for safety and a ladder similar to those found on a ship provided access to each level. The paper used for printing was fed in a steady stream from 2 large 5 foot rolls throughout the press. A tedious re-feed procedure had to be performed each time a break in the paper stream occurred. One of my responsibilities was to spot for paper breaks during a press start-up. If one was detected then it was necessary for me to press an emergency stop button to minimize the re-feed procedure.

Psalms 37:23-24 "…The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

My problem began while I was standing on the first level catwalk spotting paper during a press start-up. Anticipating success I leaned backward against the safety railing unaware that it had ended at the top of the ladder where I had been standing. As a result of this lapse in concentration I fell head first down the ladder toward the concrete floor. My speed of decent was so fast I had no time to protect my head or back from injury so I just closed my eyes and braced for the impact. I don’t recall the moments before I hit the floor but I do remember the surge of pain that shot through my legs, the piercing scream that shattered the steady hum of a busy press room and the painful ambulance ride to the hospital.

Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord.”

It can be said that what I had expected to happen didn't and what did happen I didn't expect. I expected to have died tragically but I didn't. I didn't expect to have become upright after falling head first or to have flew over a handrail or to have rotated 180 degrees so I was facing in the opposite direction or to have landed in a location 10 feet from where I had originally fallen or to have only sustained minor injuries. It was too unrealistic for me to assume that luck, chance or self-effort had played a part in this incident since the whole sequence of events took less than a second to unfold. The only person who could confirm to me that this miracle took place was me since there were no eyewitnesses but despite this uncertainty I knew without a doubt that it was God who had intervened on my behalf.

Romans 4: 22-24 "…For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith.”

Faith began to grow within me as soon as this tiny seed of truth (God exists) was planted in my heart. The bible teaches “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead”. (James 2:17)  In the past when faith was present it was quickly doused by my own inaction, however, this time it was different. To me, a Christian is one who is a follower of Jesus, so, when a potential employer queried; “Are you a Christian?” rather than becoming offended as I had in the past, this time I responded without hesitation saying: “Yes sir I am”.

Luke 6: 35-36 "…But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Don’t let fear and ignorance keep you from experiencing the love of God. This hesitation nearly cost me my life. He exists and He is Good. I know this because I've experienced His mercy. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalms 34: 8)