“We had some neighbors over for dinner the other night,” Stan began, “and we had an interesting discussion about the work they do.”
“What do they do?” I asked.
“She’s a registered nurse who works at the hospital in the emergency room as the head triage nurse.”
“What’s that mean?’ I asked.
“She’s the one who assesses patients who come to ER to determine the level of their need for medical assistance.”
“Like who should see an ER doctor first?” I asked.
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “She has the very important job of figuring out who needs medical care the most and the most quickly.”
“Big job,” I responded. “What about her husband? What does he do?”
“He also works at the hospital,” Stan said, “but he’s a volunteer chaplain who spends most of his time in ER talking with and comforting patients and families. But there’s an interesting twist about how the couple is working together in triage.”
“Working together in triage?” I replied. “How so?”
“When there’s a patient who is in real danger of not making it,” Stan replied, “the wife lets her husband know so as soon as he can without interfering with what the doctors are doing, he can talk to the patient about his or her step into eternity.”
“To check to see if they have the assurance of salvation?”
“Yes,” Stan said. “To see if there’s a pressing need to see and to know the Great Physician before their time on this side of eternity is finished.”
“Like moving to the front of the line to make sure they’re saved?” I replied. “Is that it?”
“Exactly,” Stan responded. “Nothing more important for each of us to have that assurance of salvation, but especially important for the one who is about to take that step into eternity.”
“What amazing work your neighbors do!” I commented. “It’s like they are the triage couple for both sides of eternity!”
________________________________
Bible verses to consider:
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2:17.
And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call righteous men but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:31-32.
. . . we preach Christ crucified, . . . . 1 Corinthians 1:23
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you are the Great Physician, who sent your Son into the world to save for eternity all who believe. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth so that I can have the assurance of spending eternity in your presence when my time here is complete, whenever that may be. Too often I am reluctant to make certain that people you bring into my life have the same assurance of salvation. I need and ask for your help so I will be totally open to following your lead in presenting the truth to each such person so they, too, will know you for both sides of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have the assurance of salvation and redemption? If no, why? If you do have that assurance, how are you doing in helping others to have the same assurance? As well as you like? As well as God would like? If changes in your willingness to share the truth of the gospel are needed, how are those changes going to happen? Would you like that to happen? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 