THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION

THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION

It’s Wednesday night and you are at church when someone runs in from the parking lot yelling, “Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!”  And while the church listens to a tiny radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made: “Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from a mystery flu.” Within days an epidemic sweeps through the country.  People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working – from California to Arizona to Florida to Massachusetts.  The mass population is quickly infected.

 And then, all of a sudden, the news comes out.  The code has been broken.  A cure has been found.  A vaccine can be made but, it’s going to take the blood of somebody who has not yet been infected.  And so, through every channel of emergency broadcasting, people are asked to do one simple thing: “Go to the nearest hospital so we can get a sample of your blood.”

 Sure enough, when you and your family arrive, there is a long line.  Nurses and doctors are pricking fingers, taking blood and putting labels on vials.  When they take your blood they say, “Wait here in the parking lot and we’ll let you know when you are dismissed to go home.”  You stand around, scared, wondering if this is really the end of the world.

 Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital yelling to the top of his lungs.  He’s shouting a name and waving a clipboard.  What?  He yells it again!  And your son tugs on your jacket and says, “Daddy, that’s me!”  Before you know it, they have grabbed up your boy.  Wait a minute!  Hold on!  And they say, “It’s okay, his blood seems clean and pure, but we want to make sure he doesn’t have the disease.  We think he is just the right type.” Five tense minutes later, doctors and nurses emerge, crying and hugging one another, some are even laughing.  It’s the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and a doctor walks up to you and says, “Thank you, sir. Your son’s blood is just what we need.  It’s clean, it’s pure, and we can make a vaccine and save our world.”

 As this tremendous news spreads across the globe, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying.  Then a gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and asks, “May we see you for moment?  We didn’t realize that the donor would be a minor and we need you to sign a consent form.”  You start to sign, but then you notice that the number of pints of blood needed has been left blank.  

 “How many pints?” you ask.  And that is when the doctor's smile fades and he says, “We had no idea it would be a little child.  I'm sorry sir, we need it all!”

 “But, but…that’s my son!”

 “We are talking about saving the whole world, sir.  Please sign.  We need it all!”

 “But can't you give him a transfusion?”

 “If we had clean blood we would.  Could you sign?  Would you please sign?”

 In numb silence and tears, you sign the document.

 Then they say, “Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?”  Could you walk back to that hospital room where your child anxiously waits, sitting on a gurney?  “Daddy?  Mommy?  What's going on?”  Could you take his hands and say, “Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never let anything happen to you that did not have to be.  Do you understand that?”  The doctor comes back in and says, “I’m sorry, we’ve GOT to get started.  People all over the world are dying!” Could you abandon your son to save everyone else?  Could you walk out while he’s crying out: “Mommy?  Daddy?  Why?  Why have you forsaken me?” 

 For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) 

 What a great, good, gracious, merciful, marvelous and loving God we serve!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!