Is your spiritual antenna sensitive to signals emanating from the Holy Spirit?
When I owned my own pharmacy in Michigan I was free to practice my Christianity.
I often prayed with patients who had received bad news from the doctor, sometimes about themselves, sometimes about loved ones and sometimes after they had received some kind of “great” news. I had even prayed with people who wanted to quit smoking. A couple of them did.
I was told by one of my customers that the minister of a large local church mentioned in his pulpit that he had been in the greeting card section of my pharmacy and had heard me praying with someone; that more people should follow my example. Needless to say I was pleased but embarrassed at the same time. I didn’t even know that he had been in the store.
On one occasion I mentioned to my wife that I had been thinking very hard about Helen, an older lady, probably about 82, that I hadn’t seen for a while. Helen’s husband had died a year or so ago. He used to buy some cigars that were very expensive, the kind that come in individual aluminum tubes.
After checking around I found out that she had been in the local hospital for a few days. I felt a strong need to go see her. There was a relief pharmacist on duty that day so I was able to run down to the hospital for a little while.
When I got there I could see that Helen was breathing heavily. she looked a little tired. I asked her how she was feeling. she mentioned that she had been having some heart problems, that there was a lot of fluid around her heart that the doctor was having a hard time with.
We talked for a while. I felt compelled to ask her if she was a Christian. she said she wasn’t certain. Helen believed in God and knew about Jesus, but she wasn’t sure what to make of it all.
I explained Jesus’ role as Savior to her. she seemed to keep up with me as I went through the process of why Jesus had been sacrificed. I told her that by believing in Jesus and becoming a Christian she could be sure that her sins would be forgiven and that she could also be sure where she would be spending eternity.
“ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” - 1 John 5:13 (NIV)
I asked her if she wanted me to pray with her. I was a little surprised when she agreed so readily. I prayed with her. I could immediately see in her face that a huge burden had been lifted from her.
After a few minutes, I said “Good-bye” and that I would see her soon.
Helen never came home from the hospital.
Her son stopped by the pharmacy to pick up something a few days after she died. when I told Tom what his mother had done, he couldn’t have cared less. All he seemed to be concerned about was that he now owned her beautiful house on the lake, the one where two or three large sailboats were usually moored at their dock.
I can only say that God put me there with Helen to do what no one had ever done for her before. what if I hadn’t paid attention to his urging me to go see her? God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Is your spiritual antenna sensitive to signals emanating from the Holy Spirit?