ARE YOU READY? PART ONE

(Post by: Scott Hobbs)

I would have told you last Wednesday, if asked, that I had experienced many close calls in my life.  I probably would have said it with some very appropriate male bravado; maybe even with a twinge of arrogance.  Then I would have checked myself a bit, probably due to some conviction from the Holy Spirit, and added, very seriously, that the Lord had always been so good to protect me. 

You see, I have worked around equipment, machines, trucks, and everything in between for decades.  I’ve driven well north of a million safe miles; been through blizzards, high winds, and other storms of various degrees pulling just about anything you can imagine.  But last Thursday something very different happened to me.  Something I’m still trying to wrap my mind around and asking God to put meaning to.

I was working with a good friend of mine and hauling some material for him into a landfill some distance away.  In order to dump the trailer, Lincoln and I had to back up on a huge ramp that tips the trailer almost straight up to get the material to slide out the back.  I then had to unhook the truck from the trailer and pull forward just a couple feet.  On our last load of the day, the tipper operator had lifted the trailer a little, causing me to be unable to pull my pin to release the trailer from the truck.

As I reached back under to try again, he was letting the trailer down to help remove the pressure, and in an instant I found my head pinned between the tire of my truck and the bottom of the trailer.  One ear pressed against the tire and one ear pressed against the bottom of the trailer.  I was looking inward toward nothing but steel frame rail.  It was very quiet, both ears were covered and smashed into my head; yet it seemed deafeningly loud.  I pulled with all my strength and my head would not move at all.  It seemed as though my head was being squeezed as tightly as it could possibly be in a vise of rather a strange creation.  The pressure was incredible.

I remember thinking, “How in the world did I get here?”  As I pulled with all that was in me, the thought came that I’m not sure I will get out of this alive.  A friend asked me what I was thinking about; my wife, my kids, what they would do without me?

Actually, the last thing I remember was just pulling as if my very life depended on it; it did.  Then saying to Jesus, “Lord the only way I’m getting out of this is if you save me.”  He did.

After being stuck for what seemed like an eternity, probably really 10-15 seconds, I found myself standing beside the truck looking at where, just a moment ago, I had been struggling for my life.

I have to be completely honest; I was scared.  Scared like I have never been before in all the “close calls” I thought I had experienced over the years.  I had absolutely no control over this situation, and I knew it.  Please understand, I’m not scared of dying; I know where I’m going because of Jesus.  I just really didn’t want to get there because of a crazy turn of events in a trucking accident in the middle of a landfill.

Here’s the bottom line.  For me, and I don’t know fully why just yet, Jesus lifted the trailer and pulled me out.  I walked away with minor injuries and still have trouble believing that I am alive.  Only He could have saved me; there is no explanation other than I am living proof our God still does miracles as He sees fit. 

He lifted the trailer for me.

So the only thing you have to ask yourself is, “Are you ready?”.  You see, as tragic as it may have been for all those left behind, should God have chosen not to pull me out of that vise, I was ready.  Only because of Jesus and what He did for me on the cross and my full belief in Him.

I may only have one more day.  Tomorrow could be your day.  Sometimes it happens in an instant and there is no turning back.  So you really must ask yourself, “Am I ready?”

SO, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

= Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus?

= Has your lifestyle changed if you have encountered Jesus?

= What are you going to do differently?