Steak Knife Salvation

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

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Discovering He Was Dead Could Have Killed Him

Gheorghe Stirbu, a 61-year-old Romanian retiree, went to authorities last week to have his identity card reissued because the old one had expired. His request was denied by virtue of the fact that he was dead. That's right...dead.

He was handed a death certificate showing that Stirbu himself had expired on March 3, 1999, from breathing difficulties, and been buried the same month.

"When I saw it I couldn't believe it," Stirbu said. "How can someone who is fully alive be declared dead?"

Stirbu's daughter said the shock of hearing that he was officially dead could have killed him.

"At first I laughed because I though it was a joke and then I realized how serious it was," she said. "He could have had a heart attack. He didn't sleep for days when he found out the news."

Stirbu has prepared papers to prove he is still alive.

I do not suppose this sort of thing happens all that often -- someone finding out he or she has been dead for eight years. Quite simply, it is a physical impossibility to read one's own legitimate death certificate.

However, it is quite common throughout the world for men and women to learn that they are dead on another plane, while yet they live. If a man lives in sin and apart from Christ, he is dead in those sins. He is a spiritual corpse...a dead man walking, if you will.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh...
Colossians 2:13a, ESV

When a person finds out a vital part -- yea, the everlasting part -- of his or her being is lifeless and doomed to destruction, it may very well result in a period of shock and denial. But friend, the souls who are dead in their trespasses need to know!

They need to know the bad news before they can accept the good news.

...God made alive together with him [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses.
Colossians 2:13b, ESV

In what action was this resurrection with Christ accomplished? Back up one verse...

...having been buried with him [Christ] in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12, ESV

Rescue the perishing! Preach Christ to all the lost, boldly proclaiming the truth about the inseperability of salvation and baptism.

The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" has never saved a single soul, nor will it ever. The world needs to know!

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