Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke

As we experience life, new challenges emerge and continue to bombard our faith. Paul encouraged us to, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The “wiles of the devil” simply refers to Satan’s schemes or deceits. Just because you finished one difficult period of life certainly by no means infers something else is not coming. Long-time pastor and radio minister C M Butler taught people to hurry and get over their issues as quickly as possible because the next trial was already on the way.

There is another story concerning my minister friend Jeff (referred to in our previous lesson).

His long and arduous battle with cancer and ultimate restoration to ministry has been nothing short of miraculous, but his story has not ended. He continued to receive treatments and the tumor disappeared. Jeff attempted to thank the doctor who responded with, “I can shrink a tumor or keep one from bleeding but I can’t make one disappear,” meaning only God can do that. So, things are good, right?

Not so fast. A few weeks ago Jeff became sick again. He was taken to the emergency room and learned he was in kidney failure because of a kidney stone, thus causing him to go septic. While a tube was being inserted into his kidney, his oxygen level and blood pressure dropped, causing his heart to stop beating.

This lasted for eight minutes. Two nurses straddled him and performed CPR for the entire eight minutes before his heart started functioning. He was placed on a ventilator for 38 hours to assist him in breathing. His family was warned about expectations when and if he came off the ventilator, possibly with brain and heart damage, potentially losing the ability to talk or communicate. Jeff came off the ventilator, immediately started talking and asking about what had happened. His voice was normal, his brain function and heart seemed to have no loss of ability. There was no damage to his ribs (other than being sore) from the CPR. He has since returned home and is weighing his options on following God’s will for his life.

(By the way, the kidney stone has disappeared also.)

The cancer should have killed him, the set of circumstances he just survived should have ended him, yet here he is reminding us that Christ is our healer. Christ has always been our healer and wants to help you. Will you trust Him during your time of illness? “And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases,” (Mark 1:33-34).