You could combine all the “miracles” you see on television. You could cut my leg off and see it grow back, and it still wouldn’t compare to what happened to me that day. I experienced the greatest miracle anyone would ever witness. I found the deepest need of my heart satisfied by the Lord Jesus Christ.
After we arrived home from Arrowhead Springs, I began in earnest to tell everyone about Jesus. And, life most eager and zealous new believers, the first people I wanted to share with were members of my family. I knew that my mom and dad were in the same condition I had been in all my life: religious, yet lost. They knew about Jesus, but they didn’t know Him personally.
I was so concerned that my parents hear the gospel communicated correctly that I flew back to Indiana, picked them up, and flew them back to California so that Dr. Bright could talk to Dad and tell him what he told me. I figured he did such a good job withme, he couldn’t miss with my dad, who, I knew, had just a few months left to live.
When Dr. Bright shared with Dad and asked if he would life to recieve Christ, Dad said, “Dr. Bright, I would be happy to pray with you, but you have to understand that I’ve lived a very moral life. In our church we have quite an array of stained glass windows. Dr. Bright, I paid for those windows—everyone one of them.” My heart sank as I listened to the conversation. My mind raced with concern at the thought that my dad was lost and dying.
We went home and, in another attempt to reach my dad, I gave him a book to read. I was so anxious for my dad to receive Christ that sometimes I felt like I was badgering him. I also realized how seriously ill he was, and I didn’t want to upset him. But this was important. I couldn’t watch my dad die without knowing Christ.
When my parents returned to Indiana, Dad’s health took a turn for the worse. All of my family assembled to be with him for what we knew was our last opportunity to see Dad, and I wanted desperately to know for sure that he had eternal life.
In my heart, I cried to God: “I’ve got to know about Dad’s relationship with You. Please, God, don’t let him die without knowing You.” As our visit over the long weekend finally drew to a close, Dad summoned my brother and me into his hospital room.
Fragile, thin, and gaunt, he looked at us and said, “Boys, I want you to know that all the things I placed so much importance on during my life are meaningless. The only thing that really matters is man and his relationship with God.” Then Dad turned to me and said, “Bob, I read that book you gave me, and everything’s A-OK.”
I leaned over and kissed my dad a final kiss. That day I left to go back to California, and by the time I arrived home from the airport, the telephone was ringing with the news that my father had died. My reaction was simply, “Thank You, Lord. Thank You for giving me a wonderful father. Thank You for saving me and for allowing me to be a vehicle for You to save Dad. I know where I a going one day, and now I know for sure where Dad is: ‘absent for the body and present with the Lord.'”
Excerpt from Bob’s book, “Faith That Pleases God.”