The Line In The Sand

The Line In The Sand
A mother & father found themselves in a very trying situation. There youngest daughter 11 years of age was showing obvious symptoms of severe illness. These symptoms progressed to the point of the child not being able to speak, eat, drink or walk. You may say how is this a dilemma or trying situation? Just take her to the doctor or the hospital. No brainer for most. Not so for others. This particular family is Christian, who believes in God’s divine healing power. As the child lay dying on the living room floor family members and close friends surrounded her praying. Finally, when the child took her last breath and the breathe of life ceased to be within her. Someone called 911. In testimony at trial and videotaped interviews with police, the parents said they believe healing comes from God and that they never expected their daughter to die as they prayed for her.
Because of the parent’s faith in God and not seeking medical assistance the couple could have received 25 years in prison for their daughter’s death. Charged with second degree homicide for the death of their daughter who died of undiagnosed but treatable diabetes the parents faced the judgment of man. The prosecution claimed that the parents “recklessly killed their youngest of four children by ignoring obvious symptoms of severe illness as she became too weak to speak, eat, drink or walk. They said the couple had a legal duty to take their daughter to a doctor but relied totally on prayer for healing.” The judge told the parents they were, “very good people, raising their family who made a bad decision, a reckless decision.” "God probably works through other people," he told the parents, "some of them doctors."
During the trial the mother stated "I do not regret trusting truly in the Lord for my daughter's health," she said. "Did we know she had a fatal illness? No. Did we act to the best of our knowledge? Yes." The father read from the bible and told the judge he loved his daughter. "I am guilty of trusting my Lord's wisdom completely. ...I am Guilty of asking for heavenly intervention. I am Guilty of following Jesus Christ when the whole world does not understand. Guilty of obeying my God," he said. He told reporters the couple continues to trust in God. He told reports they would continue to trust in God. "We live by faith," he said after the sentencing. "We are completely content with what the Lord has allowed to come down, but he is not done yet."
            Where is the line in the sand? Where is your line in the sand? When is it time to trust man and medicine? When is it time to stand your ground in faith? If you did what some would call weaken in your faith and take your child to the doctor, is God displeased? If you take a stand and believe God for a miracle and the child dies, is it His will? Did you pass the test of God and fail the test as a parent. Or diametrically opposed to that is the opposite scenario and ending up with your taking the child to the doctor and she lives. Did you pass the parent test and fail a test of God? These are questions that have to be answered within your spirit. The mere trauma of losing your daughter of 11 years would be tormenting. Would we still be able to have faith in our God?
In this country we have the right to our own faith beliefs. Yet when we exercise them and it does not work as man sees it should there is an added price to pay. We do have a responsibility to take care of our children. Who is the judge of how we are doing.  This couple was sentenced to six months in prison and ten years probation. They got sentenced for standing firm for their beliefs. Would a Jehovah’s Witness family be sentenced for not receiving a blood transfusion for their child and the child dies. I would say that based on this case the answer would be yes. This scenario brings up many questions. We see the world’s view in the responses of the judge and the prosecution. We see extreme faith in the parents. Who is right? Is anyone wrong? I believe that if we take our child to the doctor we can use what they tell us as our weapon in prayer. Some would say they did not use wisdom. I think the key statement came from the father when he said “they would continue to believe in God.” Raises another question, would we still trust God? Do we still love God when things don’t work out as we planned or believed? This scenario is rich in debate topics of all genres. As a father I know this would be the hardest for any parent to endure. Having been through some trying times during our child’s prenatal existence, we believed God and shook the Bible in the doctor’s Face, sowed a seed and God showed up! That is just my experience, not saying my faith is stronger than the couple, just sharing personal experience. We used the doctor’s report walked in faith and saw a miracle. Different scenario yet in some ways it is the same. I feel for this family, my heart goes out to them, and we should be praying for them to endure this hard time.
I leave you with a question, or two. Where is the line in the sand? The line where we stop trusting God and trust in the natural? Or the opposite where is the line in the sand where we cross over into the spiritual and out of the natural and believe God no matter what the circumstances? Are there a right time for the one and wrong time for the other? Where is your Mount Moriah where you lay your promise from God on the altar and believe in Him? I don’t propose an answer, at least not yet. I am a firm believer in miracles, signs wonders and the omnipotence of God, but I am not God. I will leave you with a few scriptures and hopefully some food or fuel for thought. God Bless You!
Luke 8:41-42.
41. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42.For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. …
Luke 8:49-56. 
49. While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Acts 9:36-37.
36. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
Acts 9:40-41.
40. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive
Genesis 23:6-13. 
6.And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8.And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.