I saw God in the ward

Mark 2:17

"Healthy people don't need doctors, but sick people can. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Brothers and sisters, I recently stayed in the hospital for a few days.

I told a joke online:

I was hospitalized this time, and I finally couldLie flatIt's over.

And it was a real lie flat - a nasal tube, an intravenous drip, a urinary catheter.

Three-pronged lying flat.

But it was in that completely immobile situation that I saw something.

In those days, I saw three things:

First, I heard the cry of men.
Second, I see the fragility of people.
Third, I saw that God was still looking for people.

1. The cry at two o'clock in the morning

One night, around two o'clock in the morning.

The whole ward was quiet.

Suddenly a voice broke the silence.

One patient began to moan.

Then he began to cry:

"Save me... save me...

Not once. isKeep shouting, keep shouting。

The whole ward heard it.

That voice was very painful.

The nurse is here. The doctor also came.

But what can be done is actually very limited.

At that moment, I suddenly realized something:

The whole world is actually shouting the same thing— "Save me."

Some people shout in different ways.

Some people shout with money.
Someone shouted with success.
Some people shout with entertainment.
Some people shout with religion.

But behind it is actually the same sentence:

Who can save me?

2. Human dignity is actually very fragile

In the hospital, you will find one thing.

Human dignity is actually very fragile.

We usually live outside:

There are jobs. has an identity. There is status. There is face.

But in the hospital, all of them disappeared.

Everyone wears the same patient clothes.
Everyone was lying on the hospital bed.
Everyone needs someone else's care.

Because I had very little urine in 24 hours, the doctor was worried that I would go into shock, so a male nurse came to insert my urinary pipe.

It was very embarrassing and very uncomfortable.

Later, the nurse sister came to see me and asked me to take off my underwear without any evasion...

Friend, at that moment, it was very embarrassing.

In a hospital bed, there is nothing to boast about.

In those days, I also met an old uncle in the ward.

About seventy years old.

When I was young, I loved to drink and smoked a lot.

Now I have liver and lung cancer.

Once I asked his wife:

"How is he doing now?"

She replied almost immediately:

"He has a very high quality of life."

Meaning: Although he has cancer now, he used toLive well。

At that moment, I had a deep feeling in my heart.

When people face death, they still want toProtect your dignity。

It seems to say, "My life is actually worth it."

But the Bible reminds us:

"According to fate, everyone has a death, and after death there will be judgment."
(Hebrews 9:27)

That day will come after all.

3. God is still looking for people

On the morning of my discharge, I was chatting with a patient in the same ward.

He is 77 years old.

I asked him, "How did you believe in Jesus?"

He slowly told me his story.

Many years ago, he was a hawker.

The business is good, and I have made some money.

Once he went to China with his son. There, someone taught him a spell spell. He applied that spell to his son – and as a result, his sonStart dancing。

He was shocked by that incident. From then on, he truly believed in the power of ghosts and gods, and even began to come into contact with them.

Then one day, he had a dream.

A voice in the dream told him:Don't play in the realm of ghosts anymore.

After that, he stopped touching those things.

He later worked as a janitor in a middle school. Once there was an event at school and he needed a lot of help, so he helped fold the materials. From that time on, the school teacher became friends with him. The teachers later invited him:Believe in Jesus.

He accepted.

For a few years, he really followed the Lord.

But about six years ago, due to the epidemic and physical pain, he stopped going to church again.

Now he is preparing for gallstone surgery.

I told him: When you recover, I hope to have dinner with you - and encourage himReturn to church。

When I listened to his story, it was clear to me:

This is not accidental.

Before I was discharged from the hospital, God allowed me to meet this brother in the same ward.

The three in the ward saw it

In those days, I saw three things:

First, I heard people crying:"Save me."

Second, I see the fragility of people.

Third, I seeGod is still looking for people.

If you are in a hospital bed right now

You may be in the hospital right now.

Or you have just been discharged from the hospital and have not fully recovered.

Or you have a loved one who is suffering.

I want to tell you directly:

This situation is not accidental.

The ward is a very special place.

There, people can no longer pretend.

There, people will start thinking about questions that they don't usually want to think about:

What is the purpose of my life?

Where do I go after death?

I can't give you an answer to make your body heal.

But I can tell you that there is one question that is more important than the recovery of the body:

"Who bore your sins for you?"

The core of the gospel

The hospital is oneHeal the bodyplace.

But the church is oneHeal the soulplace.

Doctors can treat the body.

But onlyJesus Christ, can save people's souls.

Jesus said,

"Healthy people don't need doctors, but sick people can. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

Why do people need a Savior?

Because people are guilty.

The Bible says, "All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Some people say, "I have not committed any great sin."

But sin is not just a mortal sin.

Have you ever lied? I said.You and I are both liars.

Have you ever taken something that doesn't belong to you - material, or someone else's time, fame? I have.You and I are both thieves.

Sin separates us from God.

Sin makes people live in the shadow of death.

Sin has nowhere to escape on that day of judgment.

That day will come after all.

Before that day comes, I ask you today:

"Who bore your sins for you?"

Your good deeds will not save you.

Your religion cannot save you.

For God is righteous.

You and I should die.

But Jesus came.

He is the Son of God and has no sin in Himself.

He came into the world and died on the cross for your and my sins.

He rose again on the third day.

He is the only One who bore sin for you and me.

This is the gospel.

It's not "you have to work hard to be a good person".

It is "one person has paid the price for you and me".

epilogue

In the ward, I heard people crying.

I see the fragility of people.

But I also see something more important:

God is still looking for people.

Brothers and sisters, people need more than just doctors.

What people really need is:

Savior.

pray

Lord, thank You for allowing us to see the limitations of people and your grace.

Please let us understand that what people really need is you.

Please save lives that do not yet know you, and help us bring the gospel to more people.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
Scripture references: Mark 2:17 / Romans 3:23 / Hebrews 9:27