The Phone Call

My telephone rang. 

That happens a lot. It is not all that unusual for my phone to ring.

However, this time it was unusual. The ringing itself was not all that unusual, but the conversation that followed was easily the most unusual telephone conversation I have ever had.

When I saw the name on the caller ID, I knew whose voice I would hear. I also thought I knew what her message would be.

I had talked to her a couple of days earlier. She told me then that the doctors had done everything they could for her husband and that the time had come to just try to make him comfortable until the time when he passed from this life. I was sure she was calling to tell me that the time had come. 

I was wrong. What she told me was that her husband wanted to talk to me. The next voice I heard was that of a man whose time on earth was quickly drawing to an end.

How do you start a conversation with a man who knows he is on his deathbed? What do you say to a man who knows he is dying and who knows you know he is dying? 

In this case, I did a lot more listening than talking. As I listened, I learned what was on his mind. I also learned about some things that should be on the minds of all of us.

A year or so earlier, I was in a gospel meeting where this couple lived. Even then, the health of my brother in the Lord and friend was not good. It had not been good for quite some time. Although I was the older of the two of us, it appeared that I would outlive him.

During that gospel meeting, we got to spend quite a bit of time together. His health had long since made it impossible for him to work. Since Donna and I were staying with him and his wife, we had some time to talk.

During a private conversation between just the two of us, he told me that, if I did, indeed, outlive him, he wanted me to conduct his funeral service. I told him that, if there was any way possible, I would do that.

Now, from his deathbed, he was asking if I remembered that conversation. Of course I did. How do you forget a conversation like that? He also wanted to make sure that I would honor his request. Once again, I told him I would, if at all possible. 

It was difficult to understand all that he was saying. Some of that was due to his weakened condition. I suspect that some of that was also due to some medications.

However, as I listened and as I reflect on what I did hear and understand, two themes emerged. 

First, there was discussion about relationships. He talked about our friendship, his role as a husband and father, his relationship with people with whom he worshiped regularly, and other subjects that would fit under the broad umbrella of “relationships.”

Second, my friend who it must be remembered knew he was about to leave this life, talked about eternity. His wife had told me in that conversation a couple of days earlier that he had been talking to his nurses about their souls. In my conversation with him, he talked about his soul.

I have no idea how many sermons I’ve preached or conversations I’ve had with people about things I thought were important and needed. Nothing I have ever said would be more important than what I heard during that telephone call. The value of relationships and the importance of preparing for eternity are far more important that many of the things upon which we tend to place a great deal of value.

If I could take just a little liberty with those two things and combine them, I don’t think I’d be off the mark to suggest that our relationship with Jesus determines our eternal destiny. After all, it was Jesus who said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Thank you, my friend, for reminding all of us of that. I pray that what I said at your funeral last week was appropriate.

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Photo background credit: Nicko Gibson on Creative Commons