What Does it Take?

Devotional for Wednesday, October 20, 1999 by Suzie Martin

Recently my 51 year-old former brother-in-law was diagnosed with a brain tumour. In the few days that remained before his surgery, he did some heavy, gut-wrenching soul-searching. He apologized to his oldest son of 21 from whom he had been estranged, and begged for another chance to establish a closer relationship. He asked all of his three sons to forgive him for the wrongs he had committed, and he specifically told my sister that she was truly a wonderful mother to the boys and that he was sorry for the wretched ways he had treated her and for his miserliness.

My sister, moved to tears, asked him the important question: How did he stand with God? She prayed for him aloud right then and there and he just burst into sobs. A clergyman was summoned and he made confession of his sins. He passed away three days after the cancerous tumour was removed.

What does it take to make us seek the godly path? Let us not wait until the accident or the illness or a tragedy strikes, because the truth is, very often we don't get that second chance. We shudder to think of such a possibility, but what would God's judgement be of my life, or of a loved one's life, if it were snatched away at this moment? Ultimately, my brother-in-law is fortunate. He was able to confess his sins and get his heart right with God in the last moments -- but oh how much more richly he could have lived his earthly life had he lived it in the Lord.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, may we always seek the godly path and to walk in your light. Help us to direct others unto you, O Lord. May we love you above all and love all others as ourselves. Help us to guide others away from the earthly possessions and unto the heavenly treasures. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Suzie Martin <suzie@sterlinginn.com>
Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA

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