Given a Second Chance

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Written by Julie Mesa

The following story comes from one of our Bible Workers in India:

In a village in India lives a hardworking builder named Mr. Rajan. One day at work he experienced a life changing event. While building, he suddenly felt a strange, crushing pain in his chest then everything went black and he crashed to the floor. Alarmed, his co-workers hurried to take him to the nearest hospital. When he arrived, the doctors checked him and found he had sustained a heart attack. They tried to resuscitate him, without success.

He suddenly felt a strange, crushing pain in his chest

Ordinarily this would have been the end of the story because it is far too common for daily laborers in India to have accidents and die in the course of their work.

The doctors declared him dead, but after some time he took one long, solitary breath. Surprised, they watched for a few moments, but Mr. Rajan did not breathe again. The doctors, now much more cautious, determined, “We will wait five hours before declaring him actually dead.” They left the silent man lying there with his grieving family.

Meanwhile, his relatives notified our JFA Bible Workers about Mr. Rajan’s situation. Immediately the workers stopped to lift up Mr. Rajan in prayer. Though the outcome seemed hopeless, the Bible Workers remembered that He who stopped the lions’ mouths for Daniel and raised Lazarus from the dead could also give Mr. Rajan a second chance at life (John 11 and Daniel 6).

Their faith was rewarded when Mr. Rajan drew another breath and woke up. The doctors were astonished to see one they had once pronounced dead very much alive. They declared he was fine and discharged him, still wondering what had happened.

The Bible Workers report that they visited Mr. Rajan shortly after he returned home and prayed with him and his family. He has since begun Bible studies with them. Please pray that the Lord will continue to work on his heart and lead him to make a full commitment to God. And remember our Bible Workers as they tirelessly share the hope that is in them with those in need (1 Peter 3:15)