Thought for the Month - July 2007

Happenings in Hospital - By Pastor Ian Wilson

Recent events concerning a couple of hospitals have caused shock. A man's body was hanging from a tree for over three weeks at Craigavon Area Hospital, Northern Ireland. The 34 year old man, originally from Poland, was found in the grounds of the hospital.

His body was found in a heavily shrubbed area to the rear of the hospital. I am sure it was a horrific find for someone at the hospital.

Perhaps even more alarming was the news from a Dublin hospital. A disabled patient, in his 30s, was being treated in Dublin's Mater Hospital on Easter Sunday when ward staff certified his death.

The family were duly informed of their loss and morgue staff were notified. To the shock and amazement of the morgue staff the man was found to be alive and now is back home with his family.

I am sure the family were relived and perhaps rejoicing that their loved one was still with them. The father of the prodigal son said this of his son.

Luke 15:24 "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry"

I was thinking of another portion of scripture. If we could go back to the first Easter Sunday morning. We would find a group of women very upset at the death of Jesus Christ. When they arrived at the tomb their shock would turn to amazement.

Luke 24:2-3 "And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus"

The words of the two angels in reply to the women’s dismay are very searching.

Luke 24:5 “they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

Why seek ye the living among the dead? The morgue staff were looking for the dead among the living!

These women were looking for Jesus in the wrong place. He was not dead he was alive. It was good news for the family in Dublin that their loved one was not dead. The news about Jesus Christ is the greatest news of all time.

Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but is risen"

Why is it good news?

1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"

It’s through Christ’s resurrection that we have real hope.

John 14:19 "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also"

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!