The surgeon began explaining the procedure to the young patient with the heart problem, “Tomorrow morning, I’ll open up your heart and …” “And you’ll find Jesus there,” the little boy interrupted. A bit annoyed, the surgeon continued, “I’ll open your heart open to see how much damage has been done.” The little boy interrupted again, “But when you open up my heart, you’ll find Jesus there.” The surgeon looked sternly at the boy’s parents who sat quietly in the room and continued once again, “When I see how much damage has been done, I’ll sew you back up and then plan what to do next.” Once again the small patient injected, “But you’ll find Jesus in my heart; the Bible says he lives there.” The surgeon had had enough, “Son, let me tell you what I expect to find in your heart. I expect to find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I’ll find out if I can make you well.” The boy smiled and reiterated, “And you’ll find Jesus there too because He lives there.”
The surgeon left. The next day following the surgery, he sat in his office recording his notes, “Damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration – no hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: pain killers and bed rest. Prognosis: death within one year.” He stopped his recorder and looked out his window to the skies. In anger he yelled at God, “Why did you do this? You put him here with this problem and in this pain. You cursed him to an early death! Why?”
God answered back, “The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for very long. He is a part of my flock and will forever be. Here, he will experience no pain and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here and together they will experience joy for eternity.”
Unmoved, the surgeon shot back, “You created that boy and you created that heart. He’ll be dead in months. Why?” Once again the Lord answered, “The boy is done with his duty and will return to my flock. I did not put him with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb.” The surgeon broke down and wept.
That afternoon he sat beside the boy’s bed waiting for him to awaken from the anesthesia. As he awoke and saw the surgeon beside him, he asked, “Did you open my heart?” The surgeon nodded and said, “Yes I did.” The little boy whispered, “What did you find?” The surgeon replied, “I found Jesus there.”
The greatest assurance in the world is to know that Jesus lives in your heart. The greatest joy in the world is to be a part of leading someone to faith in Christ. Even in the midst of trying circumstances a person of any age that has a saving relationship with Jesus can have an impact on someone else. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom.10:15)
Does Jesus live in your heart? If not, ask him to come in today. You’ll never regret it.
Are you sharing Jesus with others? If not, ask him to give you opportunities to do so.
To His Glory,
Pastor Bill