Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in the power of prayer? One Kentucky man, his family, and his church have witnessed the power of prayer over the last six months. After receiving a prognosis that was basically a death sentence this past summer, Dr. David Bush stood before his church family on December 16 and gave praise to God for his miraculous recovery.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Peter’s miraculous rescue from prison. What makes the story extra-interesting are the responses of those who were praying for Peter’s release. When the apostle knocked on the door of the house, the prayer warriors inside didn’t believe the servant when she told them that Peter was at the door.
I paused the story about Dr. Bush’s miraculous recovery to summarize the story of Peter’s release because I think that many Christians respond to miracles in a similar fashion to those praying for Peter. Often, even though we pray for God to heal people, we respond with skepticism when God does heal someone. Make no mistake, though, God does heal people.
I’m not talking about charlatans like Benny Hinn and others who claim to be able to heal people. I’m talking about how God miraculously works in the lives of people like Dr. David Bush.
A successful cardiologist in Ashland, Ky., Dr. Bush knew what it meant when he had a lingering cough that produced pain in his chest. This past June, x-rays confirmed his suspicion. The doctors told him, “If this is cancer, you should be dead.”
It was cancer, and it was in both lungs, his brain, and in his spine. Several times, doctors told Dr. Bush’s family that he wouldn’t make it through the night. Throughout it all, though, Dr. Bush, his family, and his church prayed. According to Baptist Press, Dr. Bush’s pastor organized “prayer vigils at the church and even at the hospital where Bush practiced — 24-hour vigils of deep prayer for their beloved Christian brother.”
Released from the hospital in July, Dr. Bush’s condition began to improve. In September, a scan revealed the startling news that the cancer was no longer present in his brain and spine. There was only one small spot in one of his lungs. The doctors were amazed, but Dr. Bush claims, “My life is a testament to the power of prayer and God.”
On December 16, Dr. Bush focused less on his miraculous recovery and more on how his life points to God. Baptist Press reports:
He spoke of the brevity of life, the importance of life, the true wisdom of life and the judgment from life.
“When you look at your own mortality, you evaluate life,” he said. “You have much more urgency to tell others about the Gospel. You tend to remove the unimportant things in life.”
Life is fleeting, a puff of smoke, he said, and the sooner Christians realize that, the better.
“We number everything except our days because it doesn’t come normally,” he said. “It’s important to realize we have a limited time on earth to spread the Gospel and to edify.”
Bush became emotional as his voice cracked several times during the sermon while he pleaded with his listeners to make God a priority. His brush with death made him refocus on what’s important.
“I need to do what God wants me to do,” he said. “Don’t fill your life up with temporary things. There should be no difference between our beliefs and our actions.”
Wise words from a man who understands how fleeting life is and how sovereign God is. God does perform miracles, and He does so to magnify His name.
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