[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: My near-death experience

By Oke Chinye

Read: Revelations 20:11-15

Meditation verse:

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of  fire” (Revelations 20:15).

I narrowly missed an appointment with death several years ago. I had gone to a  hospital for what was to be a simple surgical procedure. Unfortunately, it ended  up as a “failed surgery”, as my abdomen began to swell up with severe pains. The most terrifying part of my ordeal was the knowledge that neither my  surgeon nor any member of his team had a clue as to what had gone wrong. It  was after about ten days of suffering, that the surgeon requested a scan after  which he informed us that I had developed post-surgical abscess in my  abdomen, and he would have to perform a second surgery to drain the fluid 

My husband, who was already dissatisfied by the doctor’s ineptitude, rejected  his request for a second surgery, a decision that turned out to be divinely  inspired. He demanded that I be discharged from the hospital and went on to  perfect arrangements so I could be flown abroad the next day. I was admitted  into a hospital as soon as we arrived the Country. Till date, the words of the  surgeon at that hospital still send cold chills down my spine. He said: “if you had  gone to the theatre a second time, it would have been fatal”. He informed me  that the failed surgery had caused a serious infection in my stomach, such that  opening it up would result in the infection spreading throughout my system. The  abscess was drained by inserting a long needle through my backside which was  guided by a C.T scan, whilst I lay face down. The 2-hour painful procedure was  yet another miracle of God. I left the hospital after 2 weeks, out of death’s claw.  

I was given a second chance at life as I could have gone for the second surgery  and died. And I have shared my story to show that death can come knocking  when we least expect it. Hebrews 9:27 states that it is appointed for men to die  once, but after this, the judgment will come. After death, everyone, small and  great will stand before God and face ‘The Great White Throne Judgment’. The  books would be opened, and we will be judged according to our works, by the  things written in the books and “anyone not found written in the Book of Life 

will be cast into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). The bible refers to this as the second  death. This is a spiritual death signifying an everlasting separation from God. For  your name to be written in the Book of Life, you must have trusted and accepted  Christ as your Lord and Savior, for “except a man be born again, he cannot see  the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Why not examine your life this day to determine  whether the life you are living now will earn you a place in the Book of Life.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

or call +2348155525555

For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.