What do you say to a man that tells you God has spoken to him? Do you begin to doubt or question him or do you listen and join your faith with his, and pray that the life saving mission he has been entrusted with, is going to result in a positive outcome for all involved? I listened to my brother pour out his heart, and then I prayed for him, as I've never prayed for him before. This was to be a life changing adventure, not just for Randy, the recipient, but also for Ron, my youngest brother. He had become willing to walk according to the Spirit and hold fast to the truth that he knew. Yes, he knew- God had spoken and the tears that came to his eyes were not about fear, but about gratitude. God had found him worthy and had chosen him, and trusted him, to not only hear His voice, but to actually follow through and become obedient no matter what the cost.First, he would endure all of the extensive testing and probing. Then the horror stories of those that had never recovered from their operation and advised him to "reconsider". Backing out was never an option for Ron, although Randy, understanding the sacrifice, gave him that option many times. Then the personal testing, and probings of the heart came. Yes, He knew that God had called him to donate 60% of his liver to a man that he only knew casually. That was the easy part. I think the profound understanding was in realizing that God was actually interested in the details of his life. God was not just a ruler in the sky, He was a loving father, that cared immensely about him.This father knew all about his insecurities, his failures, as well as his hopes and dreams. I believe God also knew that Ron was a man that He could trust. Many claim to love and serve God , but few are willing to go where God wants to lead them. They choose instead to remain complacent, looking at the many obstacles, and allow fear to become the driving force rather than faith. The paths that God chooses for our lives must be approached with a child like trust, knowing that as we keep our eyes on our Father, He will lead, provide, and sustain our walk. This road will often require sacrifice and a love that is beyond human in affection. Whenever we endeavour to follow our Father's will, He always provides us with all that we need.
The bible tells us that we find our life when we become willing to lose it. Ron found a purpose greater than himself, when he became willing to listen and surrender. This was indeed a road that held a profound spiritual truth. But like every treasure, it did not appear on the surface. It was buried beneath the obvious.
His concern for Randy, a man he hardly knew, had been transformed by Divine intervention. God had placed such a deep burden in Ron's heart for this man and his family. A love that only God himself could give, penetrated my brothers heart and so compelled him forward into the outstretched arms of a loving father that assured him that there was nothing to fear. His own life mattered little in comparison to the hope that a family would be spared certain tragedy. Even after the operation there was only one thing on his heart and mind, and that was the condition of his newly acquired brother. In the twilight realm between a conscience and unconscious state I overheard my brother tell an unaware nurse a very prophetic statement- He said- "You know, I have two choices. " She replied, "two choices?". He continued "yea, I have two choices, and I choose door number two!". Now I am not so sure what the nurse heard that day but I think we can all hear the voice of God speaking to us as my brother has lived out the truth that we all face on a daily basis. You see, we all have two choices. We can live apart from God and refuse to listen and go our own way which will ultimately lead to our disappointment and destruction, or we can draw near to God and seek to know and do His will, which leads to His provision and blessing. Every day we have that choice and every day God is calling to our hearts. The question is, are we willing to listen?
My brother is now my hero, because he showed us the way to live by living it, not just by talking about it. His obedience and sacrifice leads us all to question. Are we choosing door number one, or door number two? Yes, this is a site about Christian Photographs, but today it is a place where we all come to contemplate what it really means to be "DE-LIVERED".
One man was delivered from pain, sickness and certain death in the natural. But, no less significant, is that another man was delivered from these same elements in the spiritual realm. Pain, sickness, and death are the rewards of those who choose door number one and make this life all about protecting their own best interests and putting their own selfish desires first. Door number two is where we find everlasting truth and peace. As we enter through this door we find love and we are enabled to give love in the fullest sense of the word. It is the door we all must walk through, if we are ever to become completely delivered from ourselves.
UPDATE: The operation was successful and Ron and Randy are both healing and recovering perfectly.
Luke 13:24
He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,And delivered them from their destructions.
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
