Resurrection

So a couple of weeks ago we made this call that came in as a "Hanging, Possible Cardiac Arrest." These type of calls usually get the mind focused and the adrenalin pumping because you know you have a legitimate shot at "really" helping someone as opposed to the run of the mill sick call or panic attack. What we didn't know what that this young man would be 16 years old.

As we arrived, the family was understandably hysterical as they came home after being gone for 3 hours to find their son, with a belt around his neck and tied to the balcony. What a horrific thing to witness. We "worked" the kid for about an hour giving him every drug and medical treatment available. Experience and science were not on his side. There was absolutely no improvement after all we did. Upon arrival to the ER the doctor "called him," and gave the official time of death. Everyone- doctors, nurses, and firemen had the same look of devastation, thoughts of "he's too young, what was going through his mind?, could this have been prevented?" ran through all of our heads.

One thing about this call has really stuck with me. Just after placing the kid in the ambulance, his father arrived, hopped in the back, laid hands on him and began praying for him. We kept on doing CPR and bagging him as he prayed. There was a look of disgust on some guys, confusion on others, as if the father was impeding our progress. I at first wanted to have him leave as we were exhausted from trying everything we could to revive his son andit was an emotional thing to witness. But then it hit me. The father was praying a prayer of life, somthing along the lines of "In the name of Jesus, you shall live and not die." Over and over again. He said those words with power, faith, and conviction. One might say he was just in denial. I got the feeling that this man knows exactly the God he serves. I had a wake up call. I preach faith in God, believe in the impossible, and I know that God is all powerful. I try to live it; I am not always successful, but I try.

Here this father was with a lifeless son, putting his faith into practice. Not grieving, not mourning, not yet anyway. I know he believed what he was praying. The Jesus he knows gave life again to Lazarus, who was dead for four days. If He did it then, he can do it again. He CAN do ANYTHING. It's one thing to say it and know it, it's another to put it into action. God chose not to raise this young man from the dead, but that doesn't change the fact that He can. I believe that father still believes in God even after God did not answer his prayer the way he wished. That is true faith. It also reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who told the king, even if God does not save them, they still will not bow to the statue. Our desired outcome of situations is sometimes not in God's will. He is still God. REAL FAITH is FAITH in ACTION. Do you believe? Do you have that kind of Faith? That man taught me a lesson in his darkest hour.