Scripture Reading:
ISAIAH 38
For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
MALACHI 4:2
AT AGE SIXTEEN, Julie Keller wanted nothing more than for her twin brother, Jared, to live another year… one more Christmas, one more spring, one more summer. But that August night she found herself in a hospital room begging God for one more day.
Jared had been born with cystic fibrosis, a debilitating lung disease—an illness that would take his life eventually. The doctors had told the family he’d be lucky to live to his mid-twenties.
Julie’s parents did not believe in God, or in prayer, or in miracles. But when Julie and Jared were thirteen, they went to a Young Life camp, had given their lives to God, and found rides to church every week. When Jared was sick and couldn’t attend church or school, he’d tell Julie, “Keep praying for me. Save a spot at the lunch table, okay?” They had this conversation many times.
A person with cystic fibrosis lives with the constant threat of pneumonia, and over the years Jared had suffered with pneumonia many times. After attending another Young Life camp, he came down with the worst case ever and was rushed to the hospital.
That had been two days ago. Now, doctors had just met with the Kellers and told them it didn’t look as though Jared would make it this time. Julie’s parents held on to each other and wept, and while she wanted to ask them to pray for a miracle, she knew from the past that they would shut her down.
When her parents went to the cafeteria for some coffee, Julie stayed to pray. God, don’t let my brother die. The two of us share everything, she prayed silently. That had been true since they were small children, but especially since they entered high school. Because Julie was popular and outgoing, Jared was constantly showered with attention and friendships as well.
“It’s so cool,” one of Julie’s friends had said the week before at youth camp, “how you and your brother are best friends. I wish I had something like that with my brother.”
Now, after the greatest week together in their lives at camp, it looked as if she might lose Jared. The thought tore at Julie’s heart and made it hard for her to breathe. She wanted to leave the waiting room and go to Jared’s room, but the doctor had asked them to let him rest.
“Lord,” Julie whispered, “please help my brother. I love him so much, and I know he’s scared. Please help him breathe. Make the pneumonia go away.”
At that instant, Julie heard someone enter the room. It was a small man in janitorial clothing with a mop and water bucket. Something about the man’s face seemed unnaturally kind, almost glowing.
“I have something to tell you,” the man said softly. He took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers. “It’s a message from God.”
Julie’s hands trembled and her mind raced. A message from God? Who was this man? He seemed like someone she’d known all her life.
“Your brother’s going to be okay.” The man winked at her. “Remember the words from Malachi 4:2.” That said, he turned and left the room.
“Wait!” Julie jumped up and raced toward the door. Stepping into the hallway and expecting him to be a few feet away, she found an empty hallway with all the doors shut. How had he gotten away so fast? No one could move that quickly, especially with a bucket of water.
Julie waited a while, then headed for the nurses’ desk. There was no way she could let the man get away without talking to him and finding out how he knew her brother or that he would live through the night.
But after she explained to the desk nurse what happened, the nurse replied, “All I can tell you, honey, is that all our janitors went home for the day, and we don’t have a janitor who fits the description you gave.”
With slow movements, Julie returned to the waiting room and began to pray again. God, was that for me? That man… his message? She exhaled hard and noticed her hands were shaking. Questions ricocheted in her soul until she heard someone enter the room… the doctor.
“Are your parents around?”
“They’re in the cafeteria. How’s Jared?”
A smile crossed the doctor’s face. “It’s nothing short of a miracle. Ten minutes ago, we thought we were losing him. Then he began coughing, and in a few minutes he was breathing normally again. We took an X-ray, and… I can’t explain it. His lungs are dramatically better. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“You mean, he’s okay?” Fresh tears filled Julie’s eyes.
“He’s out of danger. At least for now.”
When Julie’s parents returned, she shared the good news. The joy on their faces was instant, and she looked at them and said, “Can I tell you something? I think I saw an angel.”
She told them the whole story, and for the first time they listened. And when they got home and read the Bible verse that spoke about revering God’s name so that healing would come, her parents’ attitude toward faith changed forever.
Seven years later, when Jared passed away from the cystic fibrosis, Julie said to the crowd of several hundred who came to his funeral, “My brother’s entire life was a miracle. But it took a certain visitor one summer night to remind me that God was in control. My brother’s in heaven now and his healing is complete.” Then she looked up toward heaven, tears streaming down her face.
“I love you, Jared. Save me a spot at the lunch table.”
Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 JOHN 5:4