On April 29th my father died from cancer. He lived his life at first not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as He was not taught to him. In addition the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ was also prohibited to him by his surroundings and political/national/religious climate. On top of all of that there was a generational curse of sorts in my family line which was hostile to Christianity. The New Testament was perceived as bad propaganda. He was surprised when I told him the audio file that he was listening to was in fact the Bible.
Normally this would be perceived by most people as insurmountable blockage from Jesus Christ. The truth is Jesus Christ died and broke through that which was insurmountable. The amount of obstructions that Satan has placed before mankind was very much impossible to get around or to get through...that is until Jesus Christ did something about it. A lot of us sit here and assume that the rut we are in, the addiction we are in, the situation we are in, and the bondage we are in, is impossible to remove in our life. That is a lie, as Jesus Christ's sword can break through anything. Jesus Christ's blood can wash clean anyone.
There was a time I thought my father was impossible to save. I got very distressed at times because I thought that there was nothing that could be done. That's when I met a brother in Christ at a bus stop who prayed for my parents. He then looked me in the eye and said "I believe the Lord will save your parents as sure as I am standing here right now". What he said was basically the trumpet blast of the miracle to come years later.
I prayed that the Lord would allow me opportunity to witness to him and to break the blockage over his heart. The first few times was unsuccessful in reaching him. This did not stop me or force me to quit. The third time finally got through to him. I would reinforce my efforts with prayer to the Lord, which is important. In the last few hours my father had to live, the Lord gave me another opportunity to witness that last time. The cancer was in its advanced stages and he couldn't speak. His breathing was heavy and labored. I told him to not be troubled anymore and to not fear as the Lord Jesus Christ could save him this very moment. That the Lord Jesus Christ died and rose again and because of this he had the chance at life eternal. Jesus Christ has power over all illness and sickness and bondages. I told him to cry out to the Lord this very instant and the Lord can very much save him. That's when I finally saw his mouth move. Even though he couldn't speak, I saw him finally confess the Lord Jesus Christ.
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
That night I prayed that the Lord also break my father from all generational curses or chains that tried to restrict him from Jesus Christ. A few hours later I was awakened by my mother who couldn't hear my father breathing. He finally passed away that night. While it caused me great sadness to see my father die, I knew that the Lord at that morning had saved my father's soul.
Enter the criminal at the cross.....
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23: 32-34
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 39-42
An extremely powerful moment even at a time when Jesus Christ was supposedly at his weakest. Even when Jesus Christ was hanged on the cross to be executed, Jesus Christ was still able to save that one criminal who acknowledged him. The interesting thing is the criminal hardly even had time to say the Lord's prayer or anything fancy. Yet still the Lord was able to rescue him. That criminal probably lived a life of not knowing a righteous way and constantly pursuing the wrong acts. Who knew how corrupt his life might have been. But that one time he finally saw Jesus Christ and realized his error and confessed the Lord before him, his soul got rescued.
My father even though he lived a life of not knowing the Lord since his youth, he finally was able to come to Christ, even in his old age. Some people feel that they are too old or too corrupt to come to Christ, but that's wrong. If Jesus Christ can save that criminal at the cross after a life of corruption, and save my father after a life of not knowing Him or rejecting Him, then Christ can save you.
Although the salvation of my father was a miracle on the death bed and that a death bed repentance does happen, it is still ill advised. Why? We may not know how long we have left. I didn't know my father was going to die that morning. If I had hesitated or felt that I could witness to him tomorrow, I might have lost my father. If that criminal at the cross decided to join the other criminal in railing against Jesus, then that criminal's soul might have been lost. Don't hesitate coming to the Lord. Some of us may not get the opportunity to a death bed repentance. Know the Lord Jesus Christ and come to the Lord Jesus Christ as soon as possible.
Even if the Lord gives you the opportunity to a repentance and coming to Christ right before you die, what about all that life you have missed out on? A life that could have been used to bring other's to Jesus Christ and a life that could have been used to glorify God? How many of us have friends and family that don't know the Lord? I know that my father wouldn't have listened to anyone about the issue, except for me. I was probably the only person that could get through to him. What about you? You may have a friend that only follows you. You may have a family member that only listens and trusts you. And who will point them to Jesus Christ other than you? Thus it is very necessary you come to Jesus Christ so you can in turn get those loved ones to Him as well.
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. -Romans 5:6
