The other day I pulled over out of respect for a funeral procession. Whoever it was must have had lots of friends, because cars with lights on were lined up for miles following a black hearse.
I was reflecting about the tragic suicide of my brother Jim at age 52, and how this funeral procession contrasted with his. Not one person outside of our family attended his sad funeral. Just think of what kind of statement that was of his life, he didn’t have even one friend that thought enough of him to even attend his funeral.
In my misspent youth I very nearly died in a terrible car crash in Atlanta. The hospital called my parents and told them that I probably wouldn’t make it through the night and if they wanted to see me one last time, then they better get over there pronto.
They drove over to Atlanta from their home in Mississippi to say goodbye, but for some strange reason known only to God, He spared my life. When I came out of my coma and was delisted from very critical to serious condition and it became obvious that I was going to make it in spite of my serious injuries, my parents returned home. Aside from that initial visit, not one person ever visited me, (including them). Months later on the day I was released my parents came back and picked me up and took me to their home to recuperate.
Had I died, I’m sure that, similar to my brother’s funeral, not one person would have attended aside from perhaps a few family members who would have only done so out of respect for my parents.
While growing up I attended 19 different schools including three different high schools and as a young adult didn’t have any friends. I became a lone wolf and kept to myself.
Take it from me, lone wolves get… well… lonely. That leads to bitterness and anger and then to discouragement and despair and finally to hopelessness which often leads to suicide. That is where I was headed, just like my grandfather and brother.
I’ve visited inmates who told me that they hadn’t had a single visitor in thirty years and that the only reason they agreed to see me was that they were lonely. I always tell them that there is no reason to be lonely if Jesus is in their life. Not only will He be the best friend one could ever want, but other believers will enter their lives, befriend them, and care about them.
A friend of mine country music singer Clifton Jansky was deeply moved when he visited a prison cemetery and noticed that there were no names on the headstones; just numbers. He wrote the hit song, “They may know my number, but Jesus knows my name”.
That He does my friends. Jesus was my friend all along, but I just didn’t realize it until it was almost too late. The Bible states that a bird cannot fall to the ground without His knowing it and that we are far more valuable than birds to Him. In fact He loves us so much that He sent His only Son from His comfortable glorious throne in heaven to be born in a manger, be subjected to the worst trials and tribulations that this world has ever poured on anyone, and yet He lived a perfect life, only to be humiliated and horribly crucified by a jeering cursing throng in order that we might live.
Yes Jesus knows the name of all of those inmates who died in prison and He knows your name. In fact He knows everything about you, and in spite of your weaknesses, no matter how bad they might be, He loves you so much that He was willing to go through that crucifixion in order that you might live forever with Him in paradise. He doesn’t want you to be a lone, lonely, wolf that is full of despair; He wants you to be happy and prosperous and full of hope.
The other day my father dreamed that I committed suicide. He said it was a horrible dream and that I shot myself in the head just like my brother did in his suicide. A few days later my wife dreamed that a snake bit her on the arm and described it as a horrible dream.
I told some Christian friends of mine about these dreams and they became very concerned and disturbed. They think the dreams are connected and like so many dreams in the Bible are a warning that satan is trying to stop my Christian witness, (which he does not like one iota). They are aware that I’ve had suicidal tendencies off and on all of my life, and knowing that there is a long list of suicides in my family, they decided to pray for me. I’m not Daniel and have no ability to interpret dreams to know if it is a warning or not, and I’m not planning my suicide at the moment, but nonetheless I very much appreciate their concern for me.
How about you? Do you pray for anyone? Did you know the Bible instructs us to do so? Eph. 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Does anyone pray for you? If you have and Christian friends, I bet they do…If you are a Christian but don’t have any friends yet, relax because God prays for you.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all one. I don’t know how that works exactly and I’m sure it is far too complicated for my little brain to ever comprehend, but I have faith that it is as the Bible states. The Holy Spirit is praying for you right at this very moment! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Selah…Stop rest, meditate, and pray…
Romans 8:26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.