By Steve Gaines, SBC President MEMPHIS, Tenn. (BP) -- As I walked into the hospital, I looked on a visitation card at the name of the man who had requested that I visit him. He was dying of cancer and wanted me to come and pray with him. I was honored to do so. When I walked into his hospital room, I was taken aback by his appearance. His body was thin. His skin was darkened. His teeth were shattered. All of this was the result of endless rounds of chemo. Yet in spite of all the doctors could do, Jim was dying. He was on the brink of eternity. He knew he was going to heaven but he was still afraid. He said, "Pastor, I know I am saved. I know that when I die, I'll go to heaven. But I'm afraid. I've never died before. I'm afraid of what death will be like. Can you help me?" We talked about what happens when a Christian dies. We talked about how his spirit and soul would soon leave his body and go directly to God's presence in heaven. Then the Lord gave me a thought to share with Jim that I'd never shared before. iStock I said, "Jim, when I was young, I was afraid of the dark, especially any dark area in our house. I remember coming home at night with my family. My father knew about my fear of darkness. So, … [Read more...]