“EXCEPT THE LAST ONE”

The class was Theology IV or V, I think, and the discussion was about “divine healing”: what the Bible says about it, how The Omnipotent God responds to sickness and our physical needs, how we can and/or should pray for healing, on and on…. 🙄 It was a pretty lively debate among a rather opinionated group of young Bible “scholars”. 🤦‍♂️

Then, Dr. Raymond K. Levang — our professor, and a “seasoned veteran” of biblical research and ministry — pointed his shaking finger at the class, and said, “I can tell you how divine healing works.”
We were all ears… well, and pencils, poised to write. “Is this going to be on the exam??” 🙄 Then, he executed the 1979 version of a mic drop:

“God heals EVERY disease…except the last one.” 🤯

Okay, whatever. Sure, you can quibble and come up with rebuttals, but he was really just trying to make a point about the omnipotence, omniscience, and sovereignty of The Almighty: God can do anything, including heal sick people, in a variety of ways.

Most of the time, our bodies heal themselves, because He created them with that ability. I think that’s a pretty cool trick. I consider that to be a miracle.

And, millions of people are healed through the exercise of medical science, which again, I believe He created us with the ability AND the desire to practice. I would call that miraculous, as well. I am thankful for both God, and doctors. No, Cindy, “God” and “doctors” are not one-and-the-same! (Sorry; couldn’t resist. 😜)

But, then, sometimes things go wrong; the body DOESN’T heal itself… medical science hasn’t found a cure yet, or somebody makes a mistake… or, maybe we just run out of time. Hebrews 9:27 says “Everyone has to die once….” (The Message) When that happens, from an earthly perspective, whether it’s at 25, or 95… it was The Last One. God didn’t perform a healing miracle. I haven’t figured out how to tell when The Last One is.

Having danced all the way around it, let me now state, for the record, that I do believe in one more option. Sometimes, God steps in, and through another method than the ones above…
HE. HEALS. SOMEONE.

Supernaturally. Unexplainably.

I think that’s what happened with my little grand-nephew, Copeland David Reed, this week. (Remember that name.)

Believe it or not, if you’re looking for the guy with the most, strongest, greatest, BIGLIEST faith in the room to pray for you when you need a miracle, I would suggest that you not stop with me. Unless it’s an emergency. Otherwise, keep on searching the crowd for someone with giant-killing, Red Sea-parting, cancer-curing, “Lazarus-come-forth”-type faith. I’m just being honest. I’ll be happy to be on the “prayer team”, but….

On the other hand, Jesus said, “…if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ” (Matthew‬ ‭17:20‬ ‭NLT)‬‬. So, maybe I have “mustard seed faith”, or something similar to that. I don’t know.

I think Jesus was saying you can have LITTLE faith, and get BIG results. I have trouble wrapping my head around that.

In Mark 9:24 (NKJV), the father of a very sick, and “damaged” boy appealed to Jesus with these words, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” He received the miracle he was so desperate for. Sometimes, I feel like I identify with that dad. That story always gives me hope.

When baby Copeland (5 lb 15 oz) made his appearance last Saturday, he wasn’t breathing. And, there were other problems. The medical team almost immediately had him transferred to a larger children’s hospital in the Denver area. Hours later, when someone suggested that they transfer his mommy to the same hospital the next day so that she could hold him, the reply was, “Not tomorrow. If she’s going to get to hold him, transfer her now.” They didn’t expect Copeland to make it. But he did.

Then, on Monday, Copeland’s parents were told that the EEG showed “moderate brain damage”. He was unresponsive. This was devastating news. On Tuesday, they were told that an MRI of his brain would reveal the extent of the brain damage. And, it did.

On Wednesday, the MRI revealed… NO brain damage.

Zero. None. Not “moderate” brain damage. The MRI revealed a “normal” brain. The same doctor who told them that Copeland had moderate brain damage told them — two days later — that his brain was not damaged at all.

I don’t know how long it will be before I can think about this without my eyes getting blurry. Happy tears.

I can’t explain it. I don’t know what the “secret formula” is. I don’t think there is one. Yes, lots of people were praying. Thousands, around the world. I was praying….

I was praying…that people who had more faith than me…would be praying. And, they were. And, I’m beyond grateful.

But, still, I think it was more than that.

I think there is a God.
I believe that He can heal…
Anything…
Anyone…
Anytime…
No matter what.

Sometimes — for reasons known only to the Eternally Existent God — He does.

Maybe He has big plans for Copeland David Reed.

Maybe we need to tell the world, “Copeland’s coming. I wouldn’t try to stop him, if I were you.”

I can’t wait to hold that kid.

Thanks for putting up with me. I love you all. ❤️🙏