"The Debt Eraser"

“The Debt Eraser”

(The title comes from the Our Daily Bread devotional for January 8, 2018)

On August 13, 2007 Gary and Kathy, faithful believers and servants of God, were severely injured in a motorcycle crash on I-70 near Russell, Kansas when a defective tire blew. Gary’s injuries led to 74 days of hospitalization and rehab while Kathy was placed in a medically-induced coma due to brain bleeds. It soon became apparent she’d require long-term care which was difficult to find because of the level of her needs. Finally a facility was located in their home city and arrangements were made for a medical flight, but the day before the trip was to take place the nursing home decided not to accept Kathy as a patient. As I talked with Gary he shared how he cried out, “Where are you, God?” I had asked the same question years before during a difficult period and discovered, as Gary did, that (in the words of Gary Paxton’s song) “He Was There All the Time.”

God worked through a series of circumstances surrounding a new restaurant job for Gary’s daughter and a “chance” meeting with a customer who was able to cut through bureaucratic red tape to bring Gary and Kathy back to Florida on October 25 where she was cared for as a “VIP” at a facility until Gary brought her home on January 16, 2013. He’s been her primary caregiver since then (with assistance from others) in fulfillment of his marriage vows.

Then there was the matter of medical bills which added up to over $2 million, of which Gary was responsible for about half. He contacted all the providers and made arrangements to pay each one monthly as he was able while remaining faithful in his tithe to God first. After making payments for four months he received a call from the Kansas hospital in March 2008 and was told, “Don’t send any more money. Your debt has been forgiven.” Only God could orchestrate this seven month journey and ensuing ten years (at the time of this writing) of caring for Kathy. To Him be all the Glory!

When Jesus died on the cross God said, “Your debt has been forgiven.” The Apostle Paul writes, “…(We) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” (Romans 3:24-25). Since we are no longer debtors to God because of our sin we can sing with Philip P. Bliss, “Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me; On the cross He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, and made me free.” (Emphasis added)

Gary’s debt was erased twice—have you let Jesus erase yours once?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(The piece cited above appeared the day before my meeting with Gary to prepare for this article. The circumstances in both cases are remarkably similar.)