Taking a Bullet for Jesus | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Taking a Bullet for Jesus | Previous Challenge Entry
By Julene Celander
04/16/15
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She sat by the window as tears rolled down her cheeks and wondered how he could possibly be so devastatingly injured. It was only this morning that he was vibrant and healthy and so very full of life.

The call reached her at work. What the voice on the other end of the line had said made her knees go weak. Her breath became short and there was little oxygen getting into her brain to help her think more clearly. At that point all she could do was drop the receiver and plop into her desk chair. She felt as though she could vomit at any minute.

Her baby had been shot and he was in the hospital emergency room in very critical condition. She had to call her husband and together they had to make the worst possible trip of their lives…to an emergency room to see their youngest.

As she and her husband walked through the emergency room doors a nurse whisked them away to a waiting room while doctors frantically prepared their son for immediate surgery. As they waited someone asked, “So this is how your God rewards you for your faithfulness?”
Helen replied, “No. This is how God shows me His strength and love beyond my understanding.”

“But what kind of loving God would allow your child to be almost executed!? You aren’t sure he is even going to live!”
“My son may not live for reasons I don’t comprehend yet, but my God IS a loving God.”

As the nurses and orderlies rolled Jacob down the hall to the elevator, Helen and Walter were at his side praying as they went. At that moment Helen leaned close to Jacob’s ear as they waited for the elevator. She whispered, “God is with you Jacob and you are in his hands. Don’t ever forget that He will never leave nor forsake you. If I don’t see you again just know that your dad and I love you and are so very proud of you for standing up for Jesus.”

Helen and Walter returned to the waiting room to continue praying while the surgeons frantically worked on Jacob. They were interrupted by a police captain offering his condolences and an explanation of the events leading up to the shooting.

“This all began as an argument between your son and a member of the Muslim radicals in the territory. Jacob was expounding on the virtues of being a believer in Christ. The other fellow was yelling about the greatness of Mohammed. When the argument reached a pitched fever, the young radical pulled a gun and shot your son. Why on earth would your son do something like that in the first place?”

“As missionaries we take our Lord and Savior very seriously,” replied Walter. “It is our job to spread the good news of Jesus to all non believers and pray they will give their lives to Him through forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love.”
“Doesn’t seem to me that any job is worth getting a slug fired into you; especially when you are just a teenager with your whole life ahead of you!”
“That is just a risk we are willing to take because we love our Lord and want the entire world to know His story. It doesn’t make any difference how young or old you are,” interjected Helen. “We truly are proud to know that Jacob was just doing his job.”

“Yes, and Jacob is in God’s hands at this very moment. His will be done. To stand up for Jesus, even if you lay down your life for doing so, should be the greatest act a believer can perform.” Walter whispered.

Helen and Walter waited and prayed and prayed and waited. The hours ticked by slowly until finally the doctor entered the waiting room. The look on the doctor’s face was not encouraging.

“Jacob is a strong boy. We repaired the shattered artery. We weren’t sure what his status would be after such a great loss of blood. The artery is holding and he received three pints of blood. He is in recovery. Once he is transferred to intensive care you can go see him one at a time, but for no longer than five minutes each. Your son is a miracle. He never should have survived.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Helen said softly and then added, “His strength comes from the Lord. When Jacob stands up for Jesus, Jesus is quick to stand up for him.”

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