A river was in flood following heavy rain. The authorities warned the
people staying near the river that a heavy flood was imminent and exhorted them
to vacate their residences immediately and move to a safe camp, carrying only
the most essential articles with them. First they sent a truck to carry the
people. Most of them escaped in the truck. One person was adamant that he would
not follow them. He declared that he had a firm faith in God and was confident
that God would save him.
The water
from the overflowing river filled the lower areas and covered the roads. A
rescue team was sent in a country boat in search of the remaining people to
carry them to a safe place. The boatmen rowed along the roads which were now
submerged and announced their mission, inviting those trapped in their houses
to escape in the boat. The ‘believer’ still refused to enter the boat,
repeating that he would continue to stay and pray till God came to save him.
The boatmen left with the remaining people.
The river
burst its banks and flooded the valley. The overflowing water covered the
houses one by one. The believer reached the terrace of his house and raising
his hands to the sky, continued his prayer.
The final
rescue team surveyed the flood-hit area in a helicopter. They found the lone
man on the terrace of his house and lowered a rope to him, shouting through a
loudspeaker that he should hold on to the rope for being pulled into the
helicopter and thus save himself. But the man was obstinate and adamant. He
rejected their requests and refused to be saved. He stayed there, expecting
God’s direct intervention to save him. The last team left, abandoning the
adamant believer. The floods soon covered his house and he was drowned to
death.
Reaching heaven, he complained to God that He
did not come to save his faithful servant in spite of his fervent prayers. God
replied, “Son, I had come to you thrice - first in the truck, then in the boat
and finally, in the helicopter. But you foolishly turned down my requests. You
wasted the three chances I gave you to save your life.”
A person used
to pray every day that he may win the first prize in a lottery. He was very sad
as his prayer was not answered for a long time. Once he complained to God for
not answering his only prayer. God told him in a dream, “Son, I am ready to
consider your wish; but please purchase a lottery ticket first.”
That shows
the prerequisite for an answer to our prayers: God wants our participation to
perform a miracle in our life. Richard C. Trench said, "Prayer is not
overcoming God's reluctance but cooperating with His willingness."
........................................................................................................
© By Dr. Babu Philip,
Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue,
Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former
Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John,
Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507,
Kerala, India.
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