I love stories of the human
spirit. I love stories of the underdog who
topple the top dog. I love stories of
people who struggle against incredible odds because they desire better lives. I love stories of people whose ambition is to
do more than what people and society expects of them.
Of equal interest to me are the
responses of those who find success in their quest for nobler causes. I am always curious about what or whom they
give credit for their success. Was it by
luck or chance that the individual succeeded?
Was it by sheer coincidence? Were
the stars aligned properly? Was it
because of their inner strength or ability?
Did they call on some higher power?
This is why I was fascinated by
Marcella’s great grandnephew’s interview.
Dr. Kent Brantley was in Liberia
treating people who had contracted Ebola.
In the process of treating the people, he himself got the disease. After he contracted the disease, he was flown
back to the United States
where he was treated with an experimental drug and was eventually healed. In a press conference after he got better, he
had this to say:
. . . as I lay in my bed in Liberia for the
following 9 days getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that God would
help me to be faithful even in my illness.
How many people pray this like this?
Every time I hear a prayer request, it’s for healing from an ailment,
not for faithfulness. But that wasn’t
all Dr. Brantley prayed for. Dr.
Brantley continued:
And I prayed that in my life or in my death
that He [God] would be glorified.
What kind of man is this? What kind of prayer is this? Who says things like this? Who even thinks like this?
On second thought, I have heard a
prayer like this and it should be a familiar prayer amongst Christians. It comes from the lips of the One we call
LORD. In the garden before he was
crucified, Jesus prayed to His Father:
All things are
possible with You . . . If it’s possible, let this cup pass, never the less,
Your Will be done.
Because Jesus prayed this prayer,
it should not astonish us that His followers would have similar prayers. Moreover, our mindset and behavior should not
only conform to the One we profess to be “LORD,” but it should also be
expected. This is what compels the
Apostle Paul to say:
Therefore, I urge
you . . . in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. –Romans 12:1-2a
