Mr. Dell was a good husband to the end. But about two years before he died, he received a knee replacement and developed complications that immobilized him for several months. He developed an infection, couldn’t walk or get around except via a wheelchair, and was placed in a rest home. We weren’t certain he would survive such serious complications.
Mr. Dell’s daughter asked if I would do her a very personal favor. “Would you go talk with my father to see if he’s a Christian? I know he has been a very good man. I know he went to church with my mother on a regular basis. But what I don’t know is whether he ever accepted Jesus as his Savior for eternity. And I want to be sure.”
I knew Mr. Dell quite well. He had such a kind heart for others. If doing good deeds could get you into heaven, Mr. Dell would make it. But I knew that wasn’t the answer his daughter was looking for. One of his coworkers from the courthouse shared an insightful story with me. He was the magistrate court constable for the county. Part of Mr. Dell’s job was to present summonses to people who had not paid their rent for an extended period of time. After an additional specified period of time, some might have to be evicted from their homes if a court so ordered. Then Mr. Dell would drive to the home, knock on the door, and explain to the occupants they would have to leave.
He had told me before that this was the worst part of his job. He hated to evict anyone from their home, even if it was a court order. But that was his job.
Mr. Dell’s coworker told me the story of Mr. Dell going out into the county to evict a lady and her three children. The mother knew the time was coming. She hadn’t paid any rent in over five months. What furniture she owned would be placed outside the house, the door would be shut and locked, and she would not be able to go back inside. Ever.
Mr. Dell left behind the two men who accompanied him in the eviction to remove all the furniture. They completed their job and locked the doors to the house with special locks.
The family left to go to a friend’s house for the remainder of the day and evening. The furniture remained in the yard.
Shortly after lunch, a rain cloud appeared. Mr. Dell received word that a thunderstorm was approaching the area. He drove his truck home to where he stored some tarpaulin rain covers. He loaded them into the back of his truck, drove back to the house in the country, and covered all the exposed furniture with the tarps. The rains came, but the furniture was protected.
Mr. Dell himself shared this story with me: “I was walking down the sidewalk in front of the courthouse one day when a man crossing the street smiled, waved his arm, and asked me how I was doing.” Mr. Dell started smiling as he continued his story. “I thought the man was probably a friend but couldn’t quite place him. I asked him to remind me who he was.” Mr. Dell laughed softly as he quoted the man’s answer: “‘Don’t you remember me? I’m the fella you evicted out on Highway 41 about a year ago. You have a good day, Mr. Dell.’
“You would have thought we were the best of friends,” Mr. Dell said to me.
I knew Mr. Dell’s heart, but just because you have a kind heart doesn’t mean you will spend eternity with God. That is why his daughter wanted me to speak to him. She knew what a gentle and kind man he was. She knew his heart. But she didn’t know for certain if he had a faith in Jesus that would give him eternal life in heaven.
I found Mr. Dell lying in bed reading the local paper as I entered his room. He promptly folded it and laid it aside. “Hey, Mr. Dell. How are you feeling today?”
He explained it was a good day and thought his infection was improving. “I think I will get out of here one of these days.” He laughed.
We carried on a fairly routine conversation as I tried to figure out exactly how to ask him about his faith. I decided to begin with a question.
“Did I ever tell you about discussions I had with my post-op cancer patients in the follow-up exams in my office? What I would ask them about their future?” I knew he had no idea where I was headed. As he slightly shook his head no, I continued.
“Every patient who gets a cancer diagnosis has to at least think about what is going to happen to them when they die. Whether it is from their cancer or another disease, the thought of death has to enter their minds.”
Mr. Dell kept his eyes focused on mine.
“I asked them if they would like to discuss eternity. I never wanted to force my conversation on them, so I would always ask. Every one of them responded that they would like such a discussion.
“I would then turn toward the examining room door and point to it, explaining that if they were to die right now and that was the door into heaven, and they knocked on the door—what one thing could they say that would guarantee them getting into heaven?
“Probably two-thirds of them responded that they hoped they had done more good than bad, and, that is what they would tell the gatekeeper.” I looked at him as he kept his focus on me.
“Your daughter asked me to ask you this same question.”
His eyebrows rose slightly. As if he didn’t know why she would wonder such a thing. I waited for his response.
“Well, I do think I have done more good than bad throughout my life.” His eyes moved away from me and toward the beauty of the day outside the window of his first-floor room. He continued, “But I know that is not what counts on that day. I know I have sinned at times in my life. I realize I haven’t been a perfect man.” He quickly cut his eyes back directly to mine as he made his next statement. “And neither have you.” Back to the window now. “But I also believe that God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. And yours also. It has been many, many years ago that I realized this and I accepted that belief as a gift. I asked Jesus to come into my heart that day. I turned it all over to him. That’s where my faith is.” Mr. Dell now looked back at me with a slight smile. “Don’t you worry—I’m going to end up in heaven.”
“Mr. Dell, that is the perfect answer.” I reached over the side of the bed and lightly placed my hand on his shoulder. “What you just said is similar to the verse I tell the patients who do not know the correct answer. This verse explains it better than I ever could. It is basically what you have just answered. It says: ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”’”
Mr. Dell’s smile broadened. “I agree. And you can tell her what I said about knocking on the door to heaven. You can give her that assurance about her dad. I probably should have told her before . . . But I always assumed she knew.”
He folded his hands over his chest as he relaxed his head on the pillow and closed his eyes to rest.