When William Mackay left home for college at the age of 17, his mother gave him a Bible. On the inside cover she wrote his name, her name and a Bible verse.
William graduated as a doctor with excellent grades. Eventually he became head of a large hospital. But William didn’t love the God of his mother. He even became the president of a club for atheists, which are people who do not believe in God. He did not mind letting anyone he talked with hear him criticize God and the Bible.
One day a badly injured man was carried into the hospital. As Dr. Mackay looked him over, he was amazed to see total peace and joy on the man’s face.
“Just what is my condition?” asked the man.
“Oh, I guess we’ll pull you through,” replied the doctor.
“Doctor, I don’t want any guess work. I want to know if it is life or death: I am ready. I am not afraid to die because I have put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. He paid the penalty for my sins and I know I will be with Jesus if I die.”
“You have at the most three hours to live,” replied Dr. Mackay. “Is there anything you would like for us to do?”
“Thank you,” said the man. “In my pocket is my paycheck. Would you send it to my landlady and ask her to send me the book?”
“What book?” inquired the doctor.
“Oh, just ask her for the book. She will know.”
The doctor decided to do as the man asked. Then he had to move on to other patients, but he couldn’t forget the words of the man who wasn’t afraid to die.
Usually Dr. Mackay did not take a personal interest in his patients, but this time he returned to the unit where the man was taken and asked the nurse how he was. “He died a few minutes ago,” she informed him.
“Did he get the book in time?” he asked.
“Yes, just before he died.”
“What was it? His bank book?” questioned the doctor.
“No,” she replied. “It is still there under his pillow; go take a look.”
Dr. Mackay went to the bedside, reached under the man’s pillow and pulled out a Bible. As he did so, the Bible opened to the inside cover, and there in his mother’s handwriting was his name, her name and the Bible verse! It was the very same Bible his mother had given him when he left home for college. Years before at college, he had gotten drunk and had pawned his Bible so he could buy more liquor.
Dr. Mackay was amazed! He was overwhelmed by memories. Hurrying to his office, he fell on his knees and asked God for mercy and forgiveness for his sinful life.
God had His eye on Dr. Mackay, and He answered his mother’s prayers. Dr. Mackay the atheist became Dr. Mackay, a preacher of the gospel. What a wonderful change!
Do you know that God loves you even though you have sinned, and He wants His Son to be your Savior too? “God [commends] His love to us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
Messages of God’s Love 5/7/2023