This Easter week has been an eventful one for me. Tuesday I went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated by an emergency medical team. I realized afterward, that I, like my Lord, had died and came back to life, though in my case it was a God-given resuscitation for which I am most grateful, not the glorious miracle upon which the Christian faith is grounded. At any rate, it gave Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death,” a whole new meaning to me. 

This whirlwind story of mine actually began a week ago last Thursday, when I passed out under the wheel of my car and consequently caused an automobile accident, in which my wife’s ankle was broken and a precious old couple were injured, something I am still broken-hearted about. Afterward, I made an appointment with my cardiologist last Tuesday morning to see what kind of cardiac event had caused me to blackout driving my car. It was while I was walking with my daughter into Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tennessee to see my cardiologist that I collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Talking about being at the right place at the right time! I’m grateful for the medical personnel who rushed and worked to save my life, for others who joined my daughter in praying for me, and to God who graciously spared my life.

I’m now in a hospital waiting to have stents put in my heart Monday and a new pace maker, with a defibrillator, implanted afterward. On this past Wednesday morning, sitting alone in my hospital room in ICU, looking out the window at my beloved Smokies, I prayed to God about how disconcerting it was to be passing out and even going into cardiac arrest in a split second of time and without any warning. Much to my surprise, the still, small voice of the Spirit whispered in my heart, “I’ve given you an incredible gift!” Immediately I quizzically inquired, “What?” In response, the Spirit instantly replied, “I’ve forced you to live every minute of the rest of your life as though it may be your last.” Wow, I thought, isn’t this how every Christian ought to live? Should we not live every moment of our lives as though it might be our last, so that we will make the most of it for Him who died and rose from the dead for us, as well as make the most of it for others for whom He has died and rose as well, such as our family and friends? 

Happy Easter to you and yours, and please remember to make the most of every moment of it, since it could be your last moment upon this earth. Take it from an old preacher who knows!