Meeting James was an opportunity to witness

Photographer unknown

While on my quest to find water and to resolve my problem of ignorance as it relates to the use of the RV’s water system; this experience was outlined in the piece titled: An unexpected gift: my water tank was filled.

I discovered that James the person who was responsible for stopping me and had me make the inquiries that eventually led to my RV fresh water tank being  filled was seriously ill. When James speaks his voice was barely audible and extremely husky, I later learn that this helpful man had Cancer. So I had a long Discussion with James about his condition and about his faith. I learn that James believed that God was going to heal him.

I took the opportunity to share a word from my Creator and Redeemer with James, after which I prayed with and for him. I thought it strange that his neighbor Pam, who was aware of James’ medical condition, would have lit a cigarette and handed it to James, a man who have been diagnosed and was dying from stage three cancer. However James proceeded to smoke the cancer-stick (a term used by the Rastafarian in the nineteen eighties for cigarette). At the time of the cigarette smoking incident, I was sharing from God’s word so I did not think anything of it.  

I took the opportunity to in check on James while I was in Martinsburg, West Virginia and he looked forward to my visit. Each time I visited James, he expressed faith that the almighty God was going to work things out for him. On one of my visits, I discovered that James was also diagnosed and was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and was taking medication for that condition in conjunction with the treatment for Cancer. I also found out that James Cancer had spread to his hips and it was not looking good. 

With all this bad news I made a decision then I informed James, I will hang around Martinsburg until he finished his round of chemo-therapy was completed. My decision to remain in Martinsburg while he underwent his treatment made James cry.

On Monday morning before James when to his doctor's appointment, I drove to James' location and had a long chat with him. This is what I said to him:

I said: James, you as well as I know that your body is dying, he  acknowledgement by nodding his head in the affirmative while he muttered an unheard yes. I continued; Your lifestyle have taken its toll on your body and now it is diseased and is slowly dying; as a matter of fact, when we think of it your body is dying faster than you will want to believe. I was bring a reality to James' attention a reality, I thought James needed to hear.

I continued; James you say you want Yahweh to heal you, but you seriously don’t want to live. In a cracked voice that was barely audible, I hear James said: yes I want to live. I continued; if you want to live then you ought to live like it. You are actually slowly committing suicide. I saw a confused look came on James face, He appear not to know what I am speaking of.

So I continued as he sat in my RV in the presence of Pamela his fifth Wheeler neighbor and help: Here we have a situation where you are diagnosed with cancer and you are also suffering from C.O.P.D and On Saturday I saw you smoking. You are flying in God’s face. How do you expect to ask the Great Physicians (Yahweh and his son Jesus Christ) for healing and you are actually working against God’s efforts to heal you. You are doing so when you put into your body the same poison (the cigarettes) that maybe responsible for your illness and had the potential to worsen your conditions. On Saturday I saw you smoking; It just doesn't make sense to me. Does it make sense to you I asked, the ailing man. James did not answer with words but slowly gazed up at me and shook his head from left to right in acknowledgment of the truth he was hearing.

I continued, James my brother, you are ill and you are dying, you could make one of two choices, you can prepare to die, or you can prepare to be healed and live; it is as simple as that. By your action you are telling me that you have and are preparing to die and you are speeding it up with your continued use of cigarettes.

Then I open the book and I turn to 3 John1: 3, Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers. Then I said; James, it is Yahweh’s wish that we be in good health, but you have poor health, However we serves a God who have a track record of doing what man think is impossible. Jesus is there eagerly waiting to heal your broken body; however, when he show up and get the Job done he wants all of the glory and all of the praise for himself.

Jesus healed the sick and raises the dead; he did it then he is eagerly waiting to do it for you right now; but you have to want this blessing of healing bad enough to want to live for it. Then I turn to Duet. 28: 1 if thou shall listen diligently to the lord and do all his commandment that thy lord thy God have command you this day. Thy God will set you on high above all the nation of the earth, 2) and all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you if you shall listen to the voice of your Lord.

I continued and I began to explain this simple text. If you listen diligently to God word and do what Yahweh God says, there is nothing he will not do for you. Let us examine the word diligence. Diligence means to pay attention to detail. All Yahweh is saying here, if you listen to my words and do as I require of you paying attention to the details I will bless you more then you will know what to do with.

So James the choice is yours you can do one of two things, you can prepare to live or you can prepare to die, the choice is yours. Then we pray and he went to his doctor’s appointment.