Code 99!

From: Echoes of Grace: 1989

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

The hospital loudspeakers urgently sent the words, "Code 99!" vibrating through the busy corridors. This emergency message alerts hospital staff that a patient has suffered a cardiac arrest.

The Cardiac Arrest Team members instantaneously obey the message, leave what they are doing and race to the patient's bedside. All of the specialized knowledge, skill and equipment available are focused on one purpose—to save the patient.

If the highly trained Cardiac Team is successful and the patient revives, he may live a few hours, months or even years. However, some day, despite all the professional knowledge and skill, despite all the sophisticated equipment, the patient WILL DIE.

What then?

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).

How can we prepare for that inevitable day of final "cardiac arrest"?

Jesus, the great physician, diagnosed the case: "They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31, 32³¹And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. ³²I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:31‑32).

We all need the "Great Physician." "All have sinned." Rom. 3:23²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." 1 John 1:8⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8).

The apostle John describes a cure that is swift, effective and guaranteed: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

This prescription does not need to be repeated it needs to be taken only once.

When should it be taken?

IMMEDIATELY!

"Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).

God has diagnosed your heart condition. He says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer. 17:9⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

Jesus Christ died to give us not only a new heart, but also a new direction and purpose in life: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).