A Brush with Death

One month ago I suffered a heart attack.  I had a ninety percent blockage in the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery – the infamous “widow maker.” At fifty-five and thinking I was in the best health I had been in for years I was shocked.  Kudos to the excellent emergency room staff in Gloucester as well as the medical professionals in Newport News who responded quickly and effectively to protect me from even more serious injury; they were the best.

Life suddenly came to a screeching halt and my perspectives changed concerning everything.  Not only was I unprepared for the heart attack and my two stents; I was also unprepared for the thoughts and feelings which followed.  I became more acquainted with fear and panic than I thought possible.  God has been faithful throughout the entire ordeal to show He is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble (Ps. 46: 1).

 A brush with death can certainly prompt a reevaluation of many life priorities.  Foods that were “must haves” just weeks ago seem less appetizing these days as I adjust to a more heart healthy diet.  The exercise I was too busy to schedule now has top billing.  The biggest changes, though, are the internal ones.

 I have a new sense of empathy for others who are suffering physically or struggling emotionally.  Empathy is one of those things you think you have but don’t possess because you have not yet walked a mile in the other person’s shoes.  I always wanted to be empathetic with hurting people as their pastor but only experience qualifies you to show empathy.  How much has my empathy quotient risen?  Well, the other day I found myself feeling sorry for the cat struggling with a hairball!

 I am much more aware of my mortality.  A keen sense of how fragile our lives really are burns into our soul the raw realism that none of us are as indispensible as we may think we are.  Teach us to number our days carefully, so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts (Ps. 90: 12).

 The urgency of the gospel is much more focused following my brush with death.  Puritan Richard Baxter famously journaled, "I preached as never sure to preach again and as a dying man to dying men." No saint seeking souls is guaranteed tomorrow to do the work of an evangelist.  It may literally be now or never for any of us when we share time with those who do not yet know our Christ.  What’s more, the person reading this column who has not come to Christ for salvation is assured only this moment to turn from sin and trust Christ for the forgiveness of sin now and the promise of heaven forever.

 Life is uncertain but eternity need not be!  When we do more than brush death we can do so confident that we shall live forever with our precious Lord in His heaven.

 

This post originally appeared in the Daily Press.