Sand Mountain Sermonette 92
Acts 2:24; Roman 3:23
“The Done-Dead Boy”
“But God raised Him from the dead…” Acts 2:24
When I was a sophomore in high school in the seventies, I began to experience some ongoing fatigue and occasional dizziness issues that resulted in my parent’s seeking the advice of a good friend who was a specialist physician in Birmingham, Alabama. After seeing this doctor, he felt it best to admit me to one of the local hospitals for testing because he believed my health problems could be stemming from issues related to my blood pressure, and being as young as I was, he wanted to stay on top of things. So, I was admitted to what we learned was a wing of the hospital that dealt with youth-related health problems.
About mid-week one of my nurses who would prove to be my favorite, an African American nurse, walked into my room that morning to take my blood pressure. She was a “to-the-point” nurse but one with a big heart. She said, “All right, James, sit up on the side of the bed so I can get your blood pressure.” So, I did, at which time she proceeded to fit my right arm with one of those classic cuffs from a what is now a vintage blood pressure device. And she took the bulb and pumped and pumped as she was keeping a close eye on the needle. After doing this, she stopped and looked at me as baffled and said, “Boy!” You-done dead!” And I can tell you I was scared until I realized I was still breathing and fully alert!
I asked her why she had said that, and she replied, “Because your lower reading reads zero, and you can’t be alive with a reading like that!” Then, she chuckled and said, “Let me try that thing again!” And she did and told me the lower reading was a little better, and then she walked out without telling me what that reading was! After a week, I went home with no official report from the doctor. Soon my parents and I received a letter which said that after many tests, they could find no reason as to why my blood pressure was fluctuating so much, but due to my age and the fact I was a little overweight at the time, my blood pressure should level out with time. So, my mom put me on weight-loss program, and I lost forty pounds and then, everything was fine!
The Biblical truth is, being “Done dead” because of blood pressure fluctuation issues is most certainly a means to be concerned and to be checked but being spiritually “Done-dead” is disastrous! Paul tells us in Roman 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means that you and I have been born into the world as sinners. That’s why as much as we think we are progressing to a better future in this world, we just keep making a mess of things! The famous Nineteenth Century Preacher, Charles Spurgeon has said that God would not have sent the Savior into the world if we did not need saving! So, what’s the cure for the evil heart that separates us from a loving and holy God? The one cure is found in the One to whom our Scripture today addresses: Jesus Christ, the Son of God! “But God raised Him from the dead!” The Bible says through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the spiritually dead become spiritually alive and have eternal life!
Pastor Louie