Bible Matters 287:  Miracle at Lincoln Crawford

As my latest book, “A Bride of Christ” is being written, a family member, Warner, is passing from this life to the next.  He has struggled with declining health over the last several years.  He was raised by a Christian mother and grandmother that both loved God and knew the Bible, but his life was one of searching for the almighty dollar.  He went to the hospital two weeks ago and told his sister that he knew that God would send him to hell if he had committed suicide.

With a couple of pints of fresh blood, Warner was alive and awake.  The family prayed over him as I walked him through Luke 23 and the criminal on the cross that feared God, defended Jesus, knew that he deserved hell, asked for forgiveness of his sins and asked to be with Jesus in paradise.  I told Warner that if there was ever a time to fall in love with God, today is the day.

Luke 23:39-43 – And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Warner then immediately told us of the time he was engulfed in the flames of a 60 foot long fiery furnace that exploded and not a hair on his face was singed.  His coworkers thought he would be dead.  In Daniel 3, the Lord kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego safe from the flames of the fiery furnace.  God kept them and Warner safe from the fiery furnace.  I told Warner that God has kept him safe his whole life.  It is now time to give God the glory and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Repent of your sins, ask for forgiveness and ask to be with Jesus in heaven.  Only you can ask Jesus for this gift.  We all cried and prayed.  None of us know if he asked God for salvation.

With this background, remember God tells you to judge no one!   Period.  Love him.  Especially love your neighbor.

One week later out of a list of available nursing homes, the hospice care facility asked the sisters if they would like to check out two nursing homes to send their brother to.  One happened to be in a predominantly white community and the other in a predominantly black community.  We all grew up in a mixed neighborhood, so either one would be fine.  The sisters choose the one in the black community, Lincoln Crawford, because it had a better rating, was clean and people complimented them on the care of the patients.  The sisters also did not understand why in as bad of shape that Warner was in, why are they sending him from a hospice care facility to a nursing home.  We have learned not to challenge the decisions God is making in our lives. 

As you know, I have combined my Bible Matters over time and published several books.   I took four of my latest books to the nursing home facility to visit Warner.  This was our first visit.  With the titles of the books hidden by showing the only back of each book facing up, I asked the receptionist, Simone, if she would like a gospel book.   What she saw was black with white letters.   No titles.

I told her to pick one and God will give her the one she needs.  She picked “Power of God.”  Totally amazed, she opened her journal and she showed us the last line where she asked God to show her his power!  Simone, my wife and I have witnessed the Power of God.

The unbelieving will say that Simone had a 25% chance of picking the Power of God.

The believers in God will say:  What is the chance of me falling in love with Jesus as my Lord and Savior at fifty-nine years old and authoring six gospel books, including one book titled, “Power of God?”  What is the chance of the sisters picking the Lincoln Crawford nursing home?  What is the chance of me even bringing four books to choose from as this was a first for me?  What is the chance of this receptionist on duty?  What was the chance of me showing these to her with only the backs showing, no titles?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you just witnessed a one in a trillion times a trillion chance of that book being selected by Simone. 

You just witnessed a miracle. 

You just witnessed the Power of God!

Warner could have taken himself out, but he didn’t.  He endured to the end. 

Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Only God will say to Warner, “today you will be with me in paradise.”

Those two pints of blood received by Warner were the difference for him between life and death with Jesus.  Few of us will get that chance of having two days in the middle of a death spiral, to accept Jesus as our Lord and savior.  A chance to be with him in heaven. 

My doctrine uses of the preponderance of evidence testimony that out of two or three witnesses the truth in God’s word will be known.  It is not my doctrine.  It is God’s.  This method in understanding God’s word has led me by the spirit to fully understand God’s will and his New Testament doctrine of salvation.  It is this method that has given me victory in Jesus.  It is God’s doctrine that has made me a bride of Christ. 

John 7:16-17 – Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

This miracle is published under Bible Matter number 287.  I wrote Bible Matter 286 late last night.  I could have waited till tomorrow, but I didn’t.  God needed me to wake up at 3 AM and write Bible Matter 287. 

In bible numbers:  28 – Led by the Spirit.

                                 7 – Completion, Spiritual Perfection.

Being led by the spirit, God has directed me with gospel messages to reach spiritual perfection.  I have victory in my life due to Jesus Christ.  Never challenge the direction God is taking you in this life.  God is victorious.

God had a plan for Warner.  God protected Warner from the fiery furnace.  He endured unto the end as led by God.   God has been saving Warner 60 years for this miracle.  I’m pretty sure Warner will be in heaven.    Not because he is saved, but because he did God’s will.  He allowed God’s miracle to play out.  He endured until the end.  Salvation is not in how you start you walk with the Lord, but in how you finish.

I performed the pick one book twice since Simone.  An inmate at the jail ministry picked “Power of God.”  He needs the Power of God to overcome his addiction.  Knowing of this miracle, my granddaughter, Lydia, also picked, “Power of God.”  The probability of three people in a row all picking the “Power of God”, is 1.6%.  This is not random.  Totally influenced by God.  Out of two or three witnesses, you shall know the truth.  You need the Power of God in your life.

His life, my desire to fully understand God’s message of salvation and Simone asking to see the Power of God was a miracle, orchestrated by God on 8/11/23.  It has been in play for over 60 years.  

Never doubt the Power of God.

As an Apostle for Jesus Christ, I pray that today you accept God’s miracle by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and decide to give Jesus your heart and live your life for the glory of God as a bride of Christ!  With the Power of God, endure unto the end.  Always giving God the Glory. 

To God be the glory is all you do.  Amen.