Marlene had been a ridiculer and scoffer of spiritual things. She called Christians a bunch of hypocrites. She scoffed at the gospel and flatly rejected the claims of Christ upon her life. Until that day! Sitting at her desk at work, suddenly a piercing pain flew from her chest into her back and up into her jaw. She started sweating and had trouble breathing.

Her manager, Frank, immediately knew the warning signs and shouted, “Call 9-1-1.” Marlene was having a heart attack. The co-worker rushed to tell them that help was coming quickly. “I’m afraid to die. I’ve laughed at God all my life and ridiculed Christians. How can I meet Him?” Marlene whispered. Frank spoke briefly with her about how to know Christ. He said, “I’m calling my pastor. He will meet us at the emergency room.” Sirens filled the air as the first responders were arriving. Marlene was in trouble, and she knew it.

Why is it that sometimes it takes a major life episode for some people to start taking serious inventory of their lives?

His pastor simply said, “I’m on the way,” as he hung up the phone. Rushing from his office, he stopped briefly at the desk of his administrative assistant and said, “Remember Frank wanting us to pray for one of his workers, Marlene? It seems that she is having a heart attack, and I am on my way to the hospital. Please call my counseling appointments and reschedule them for me, and will you let my wife know as well so she can be praying?” With that Frank’s pastor rushed to the hospital.

As soon as Marlene was stabilized, the doctor urged Pastor Kenward to come into the CCU because his patient really wanted to speak with him. At her bedside, Frank’s pastor shared Scripture with her and step-by-step explained how she could have a relationship with the Son of God. He explained how her sins could be forgiven because the Lord Jesus died for those sins and rose again on the third day. She could know for sure that she would be with the Lord forever as one of His own children.

It was as if a light bulb suddenly turned on. Marlene, the mocker, and scoffer, suddenly turned repentant and believing as she placed her trust in the Lord. Softly she whispered, “I’ve never known what power and authority the Lord really has. I am so glad that I am now one of His. I wish it didn’t take a heart attack to break my stubbornness. But I am glad now that I now am His. Thank you for coming so quickly, Pastor.” What a change in Marlene’s life! She recovered from the heart attack and demonstrated clearly a new heart and love for the Lord.

For today: Don’t wait for a crisis to make you follow Him. Trust the One Who has all authority and ability. Jesus said, “…The one who comes to me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).