Reflection
Over thirty years ago, I sat bedside with a hospice patient, helping manage his pain through our home infusion company. That work was both gratifying and draining. It was gratifying because I was privileged to walk with people through some of life’s most sacred moments. It was draining because I carried the responsibility of helping ensure they crossed into eternity with as much comfort and dignity as possible.
One of those patients was a man named Merlin. Over time, we had built a friendship, mostly through our shared love of sports. His nephew even played in the NFL. Our visits usually involved football scores and lighthearted conversation.
But this day was different.
The small talk never came.
I could tell Merlin wasn’t far from his final breath. He looked at me and asked, “Jay, do you believe in salvation?”
Caught off guard, I stumbled a bit. “What do you mean, Merlin?”
He looked at me with remarkable clarity and asked, “Do you believe in Jesus?”
I smiled and said, “Yes, I do. He saved my life.”
His entire body seemed to relax. He let out a deep sigh of relief and said, “I thought so, but I just had to make sure.”
Merlin was witnessing from his deathbed.
He wasn’t worried about his comfort, his regrets, or even his legacy. He wanted to make sure one more person knew Jesus. He understood that while death ends our earthly journey, it doesn’t end our story.
Merlin passed away the next day.
I’ve never forgotten that conversation. It reminds me that the greatest gift we can offer another person isn’t our success, our possessions, or our accomplishments. It’s the hope we’ve found in Christ.
A dying man reminded me that we are all just nobodies trying to tell everybody about Somebody who saves souls and changes eternities.
Fact
I’ve stood beside many beds where life was ending, but I learned that those closest to heaven often have the clearest vision of what matters most.
Soul Search:
- If today were my last day, what would matter most?
- Who in my life needs to hear about the hope I have found in Jesus?
- Am I living in a way that points people toward Christ?
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'” John 11:25
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
