The Defective Heart.
Late Summer 2014, I was diagnosed by a specialist as having an abnormality in my heart. No wonder I could hardly do any exercise. I couldn't play sports any longer, as it made my brain spin, and at times, even walking would make me so dizzy that I had to stop in my tracks. Going up stairs was slow, just one step at a time! I had become an old man.
The reality of it hit me head on while I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 2nd, 2014. We were heading for Tattoo, a famous music festival for all those who used to be or are still part of Great Britain. We had to take the bus, and one was coming a bit too fast. As we weren't yet at the bus stop, I started to run. Within seconds, I almost blacked out. I was confused and completely dizzy.
Once back home, my first stop was to see a cardiologist, the best in the region, and the news was grim: My heart was enlarged, and worse, I had two parts to the aortic valve leading into my heart chamber instead of the normal three parts. I remembered back to when I was sixteen. I was diagnosed at the time with a heart murmur, probably as a result of these two flaps to my heart valve. Now, with time working against me, I would have to slow down, and it was recommended that I start taking beta-blockers. After praying about it and researching the beta-blocks, I became convinced that these beta-blockers would not be for my benefit, so I didn't take them. I decided to trust my Heavenly Dad instead. At the same time, however, I began to prepare myself for my possible demise. I began putting together instructions on how to continue our online ministry if something were to happen to me.
My wife and my children prayed for me, and I prayed that I would continue to live so that I could be an encouragement to others at all times. As the former cardiologist had no bedside manner, I requested a referral to another cardiologist, one who was the exact opposite of the former one in mannerisms. He was friendly and encouraging, and he wanted me to do more tests.
Amidst a tumultuous time at work, one day I woke up completely refreshed, assured that I was healed. I experienced no more dizziness after this. I was able to run up the stairs and play sports with my students without problems. I knew in my heart that I was healed.
Just yesterday, 5 months later, I had an appointment with my cardiologist, and he told me that at times it is hard to discern all the flaps of the heart valve with an ultrasound. However in the latest ultrasound, it was clear that I had 3 flaps. My heart valve was completely normal.
Doctors always have to look for reasonable explanations. Instead of concurring I asked my Father what His take was on this, and His answer was clear: "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured." (Mark 1:41-42, NIV) God had healed me completely. What else could explain that the dizziness had evaporated in the blink of an eye? Despite the fact that I had had this condition all my life, I was now as good as new. God gave me another flap to my heart valve so that I could continue with ministry.
Right now I long in my heart to bring the Church back to the first century standards where the word was not only spoken, but was also backed up with healings and miracles. In other words, taking back what the evil one had stolen from us. I have discovered that even now-a-days, some Christians live as in the first century, relying solely on our Father to share the Good News and backing it up with incredible miracles. What happened to me will happen to others as well.
Do we believe truly?
Robert Chaffart is the Diretor and Founder of Answer2 prayer Ministries)www.answers2prayer.org)
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