Stones turned into sand
Physical illness is a normal human condition; a product of our sinful nature. There is no reason to accuse anyone of being guilty of sin just because he is sick. This is the attitude of some people today and during the time of Christ. Afflictions can come to all of us: faithful or not.
Physical healing is not also included in our salvation experience. There is no truth to the teaching that if a person gets saved, he is also healed of sickness. While we are still here in this cursed world, we will get sick. God allows sickness to afflict all people, including the most faithful.
I became sick for a number of reasons. Many times it was because of my unfaithfulness and disobedience to God. Often, the result of my irresponsible behavior and decisions. The Lord allowed it many times for me to experience His grace and to manifest His power. For we can never experience His strength without weakness and His healing power without sickness.
Lesson/Application:
IBBC family is mostly aware of my health conditions. It is not something I should be proud of; but I am thankful for it is an opportunity to manifest God’s faithfulness and power in my life.
Miracle # 10
About 13 years ago, my flight schedule bound for Toronto, Canada had a stop over in Las Vegas, Nevada. I took it as an opportunity for me to pick up some important documents for the ministry while waiting for my connecting flight to be with IBBC Canada anniversary celebration. I decided to take my connecting flight from Las Vegas to Toronto the following day, Friday.
I took the Thursday morning Southwest flight and arrived early afternoon. I was picked up from the airport by one of our preachers and drove me to my house to stay for the night. At this time Ptr Christ Daraug, who was then the Mission Pastor of IBBC LV was occupying the house with his family. After doing my errands, I went home and was in bed early to make my flight at 7 am in the morning, which meant I had to be in the airport at 4am.
At around 11 pm, Thursday; I started feeling discomfort in my upper abdomen and it escalated to a severe pain an hour later. The pain would not subside and had gotten worse that at around midnight I instructed Ptr Chris to call 911 emergency. The Paramedics came immediately within 15 minutes and took me to Sunrise Hospital ER. This was the hospital of choice due to my extensive cardiac history.
I requested Ptr Chris to stay and wait for I was confident of being discharged right after treatment. But to my disappointment, that did not occur. After about 2 hours waiting for the test results, the ER doctor came and gave me the bad news: I had to be admitted since the test results and the scan were showing 3 gall stones that needed to be taken out immediately. Still in escalating pain, I had no choice but to comply. They proceeded to transfer me to a regular room as I waited for surgery. With much hesitation, I asked Ptr Chris to call Ptr Noe Cedro of IBBC Canada to apologize for my emergency situation and cancel my preaching engagement, including my flight.
At around 5 am, a nurse woke me up and began to prepare me for surgery. At the time the pain was totally gone and they sent me for another Ultra Sound for the final preparation. After the procedure, I was back in my room, waiting for the result and I fell fast asleep.
About an hour or so later, the attending female doctor came in to my room with a smile on her face. She asked me first about the level of pain and if I was feeling okay. I told her I am okay and totally prepared for the surgery.
When she started to talk, she seemed to have difficulty explaining for a not-so-obvious reason. She initially referred me to the 1st scan result which showed 3 solid gall stones and then explained that the last scan was no longer showing the 3 stones and in her own words said, “the gall stones turned into sand.” At first I did not understand what she meant until she announced that I needed to prepare for my discharge for I no longer needed surgery! Needless to say, I was relieved and happy!
As a testimony, I told her I am a Pastor and that everybody was earnestly praying for me. She smiled and said, “I guess your prayers were answered.” She left shaking her head in unbelief and surprised of the result. That was a miracle that I will never forget.
I did not make it to celebrate with IBBC Canada but I was able to preach and minister to our IBBC Las Vegas brethren that Sunday!
Conclusion:
This experience was truly a miracle from the Lord. If I had one regret, it was my failure to ask for a copy of the scan result as an evidence of God’s power. Then I realized that was not important compared to the opportunity God gave me to praise and thank Him for allowing my illness, my pain, even loosing the opportunity to be in Canada to show that my Lord and my Savior was in control, and how privileged I was for using my condition to reveal His power and glory!