Two years ago, a coworker went to pick up lunch for us at work. On his way back, he was hit by a truck that ran a red light. He was paralized from the neck down. Over the two years of rehabilitation, he regained some of his arm movment back, but only about 50-60%. On Wednesday morning, he called his wife and left a message saying he loved her and his kids and that he was tired of being a burden on everyone. He said good bye and then rolled his wheelchair into their swimming pool.
The live in nurse pulled him out, but it was too late. He was 41 years old and has two sons and his wife. At our research company, we are all like family and this is the second death of someone there in the last two years.
The extremely sad part is both coworkers that have died were not christians and thinking of where they are now breaks my heart. Yes I miss him, but I should have talked to him about Jesus before it was to late.
It remindes me of Matthew 7 where the rich man and Lazarus died and the rich man went to hell. The rich man just wanted a simple drop of water to ease his torment.
I can't help but think that I could have been the one to lead him to Christ. UUUUgggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!
I am going away for the weekend from some friends from church as I need to see the Lords forgiveness and strength to deal with this. Over the last two years, I have seen 4 people (2 uncles) die who were not saved and the though of were they are now devestates me. One this has shown me is I must be totally sold out for Jesus Christ and I MUST SHARE CHRIST WITH EVERYONE!
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In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
Sad story, what a sheme. I know how your feeling as far as the guilt goes. I am a RN on a BMT unit. Death and dying are a fairly common happening here. Our patients spend a long time in the hospital and we get to know them and their family well. I have been blessed over the years to have been used of God to lead several patients to the Lord. Many of them just minutes before they died. But it is the ones I did not witness to that I think of with regret andthink how pitiful my faith is. With some people the chance to wittnes come easy, with others it seems the chance jus don't materialize. I pray for the opportunites to wittness. What helps me deal with it is the verses below.
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
One this has shown me is I must be totally sold out for Jesus Christ and I MUST SHARE CHRIST WITH EVERYONE!
So sorry to hear that brother..don't condemn yourself too much though. In America there is no shortage of the Bible. If he is in his 40s I'm sure he recieved a Gideon Bible in grade school. I'm sure he has accidently turned the TV dial on preachers before and I'm sure someone has shared Christ with him before.
BUT ... there is a shortage these days of men who will dare walk the talk. You are correct..we must share Christ daily but the best witness is being a visual example of your faith. If your walking the talk Christ will send people your way. The opportunities will come.
Thanks guys for the replys. I guess the hard thing is I have been studying hell lately and it is a place that we can't even fathom, but these guys are there. And for ever and ever and ever....
I remember back when I was younger I got arrested and got to spend a weekend in jail. I was terrified to say the least. This was before I was saved and I thought if this is like hell, I don't want anything to do with it. Funny thing now is, if hell is just sitting in a cell, that is way much better even though that doesn't sound to good. BUT, the Bible is clear that hell is way way way more painful than sitting in a cell. We can't imagine, but I often wonder how bad these people are in hell.
Anyway, thanks for the replys. I will talk with y'all on Sunday evening as I am about to pull out with some guys from my church on a ATV trip for a friends bachelor party. We though this would be much more wholesome to go have fun rather than doing something that would not glorify God.
Y'all have a blessed weekend and thanks.
__________________
In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
The main question for everyone......"Are You Ready As A Christian"? Our lives can be over at anytime! Accident, Heart Attack, etc.,etc.,etc.........Only the Chrtstknows!
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
The main question for everyone......"Are You Ready As A Christian"? Our lives can be over at anytime! Accident, Heart Attack, etc.,etc.,etc.........Only the ChrtstÂ*knows!
So true Reb. I must decrease each day as Christ increases in me each day b/c we never never know when we will die. I want to kneel at my Savior and Lord's feet one day and here Him say, "well done."
The bottom line for everyone is, does Christ live in your heart or head? God deals with the heart, but man tends to focus on the head knowledge. I know, b/c I was there. I was once a false conversion. Just prayed a prayer and ment it, but no change b/c it was coming from my head and not my heart.
When I trully allowed Christ to cleanse me from my heart outward, the changes started happening. Again, I must strive to decrease and allow Him to increase and this can only start with a heart operations......I am the patient and Christ is the doctor.
__________________
In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
The main question for everyone......"Are You Ready As A Christian"? Our lives can be over at anytime! Accident, Heart Attack, etc.,etc.,etc.........Only the Christknows!
ATC,
This is so very true, moreso than most people understand. Like Don, I also am an RN, and I see death and near death regularly. Just this weekend, I helped a man, live to see another day as he was having a massive heart attack. As my job doesn't really allow me to preach or push religion on my patients, I certainly encourage them positively, and allow them to share their faith pretty regularly, encouraging them to find strength in GOD.
Sadly, I find that a just as Ecclesiates 1:18 ( For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.) says, sometimes increasing knowledge truly does increase sorrow. Unfortunately, you are missing the true opportunity, for if you believe he was an unsaved man who will burn eternally, then is his family to follow the same path??? Send a card of sympathy, along with a nice invitation to come worship with you and your Godly Family. But keep in mind, "you can only lead that horse to the water, he must drink for himself." Don't shame yourself for anything, God certainly was offered to this man in many ways after his tragic accident one would believe, and if he refused to accept, then he is left to deal with those unfortunate consequences.
The main question for everyone......"Are You Ready As A Christian"? Our lives can be over at anytime! Accident, Heart Attack, etc.,etc.,etc.........Only the Christknows!
ATC,
This is so very true, moreso than most people understand. Like Don, I also am an RN, and I see death and near death regularly. Just this weekend, I helped a man, live to see another day as he was having a massive heart attack. As my job doesn't really allow me to preach or push religion on my patients, I certainly encourage them positively, and allow them to share their faith pretty regularly, encouraging them to find strength in GOD.
Sadly, I find that a just as Ecclesiates 1:18 ( For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.) says, sometimes increasing knowledge truly does increase sorrow. Unfortunately, you are missing the true opportunity, for if you believe he was an unsaved man who will burn eternally, then is his family to follow the same path??? Send a card of sympathy, along with a nice invitation to come worship with you and your Godly Family. But keep in mind, "you can only lead that horse to the water, he must drink for himself." Don't shame yourself for anything, God certainly was offered to this man in many ways after his tragic accident one would believe, and if he refused to accept, then he is left to deal with those unfortunate consequences.
Thanks for the good reply. I like the idea of sending the card and will do so. Maybe, just maybe sending a card will draw these people to hear the word of God and if one gets saved, then the chain has been broken.
__________________
In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
A very sad situation
