“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, KJV)
I was scheduled for an MRI. I have had two before, so I was very familiar with the process. But this time I was nervous, because I was unfamiliar with the hospital and because the MRI technician made me nervous, because he was so serious in his communication.
The lab technician who was to do my blood work was a dark-skinned man from another country. I wondered if he knew Jesus. He happened to be a Christian. He stood beside my husband and me after he drew my blood and began to talk to us about God. He quoted Scripture and encouraged us with his faith in God. I was so blessed! And I didn’t have to be concerned about his soul for eternity.
I explained to him that I was nervous because the technician was so serious. And then we started joking about communication styles, and this made us laugh.
When the MRI technician came for me, I let him know that my husband would come with me, as he had done with the other two MRI’s. The technician said that he was not allowed. This made me more nervous. But I was asking the Lord about his soul, “Does he know You?”
The lab technician and the MRI technician escorted me to the MRI room. The MRI machine was the narrowest one that I had ever seen. This was a first! As they prepared me to enter that machine, I grew more nervous. It was so narrow that I could hardly sense any freedom. After a while, I asked them to please take me out of it.
How narrow must be the gate to heaven. Not many enter.
As the machine slowly took me out, the lab technician began to tell me that it was intimidating to go into that thing and that he understood. I had to take a few breaths before the button was pressed for the machine to take me back in.
As I was going back into it, I asked the lab technician to please place his hands on my ankles. He kept his hands on them, while the MRI was taken. This was so caring of him. He was there, as Jesus was for me.
I was then informed that the lab technician had to go work on another person. Great! Now the Christian had to leave, and I was alone in that cold room in that narrow MRI machine. I know that Jesus is always with me in His strength and comfort. I had to keep my eyes closed and know that He was in that machine with me. Where could I be, that He is not? His presence fills heaven and earth!
After it was all over, the MRI technician escorted us to a small room. He informed us that the lab technician could not come to take the needle out of my arm. The needle had been inserted to inject a contrast, so the MRI technician would have to take it out.
As he was sliding the long needle out, I began to talk to him about Jesus. “Do you know how much Jesus loves you?” I asked.
As he worked on slowly taking the needle out, he said, “I am Catholic. My wife and I always pray together.”
I commented, “That is very sweet.” I then asked him, “Have you ever prayed to ask Jesus to be your Saviour?”
He was still working on cleaning the area where the needle was and on wrapping it with tape. “I do every day,” he replied.
I had to be sure that he knew that believing in Jesus as his Saviour was a one-time request for his soul to be in eternity. “We are going to pray together, so you don’t have to ask Him every day, and so you will be assured that you know Him as the Saviour of your soul and know that you will be in Heaven with Him for eternity.” He finished wrapping the tape around my arm.
“Would you like to pray and ask Him?” I continued.
“Yes, please, I would like that,” he said. And bowing our heads in prayer, he prayed, believing in Jesus as the Saviour of his soul, thanking Him for His love for him and the forgiveness of his sins, and asking Jesus to take his life to use it for His glory.
At this, his whole countenance changed. He took a sigh of relief, smiled, and then thanked me.
He, my husband, and I rejoiced, praising the Lord!
“Abba, how nervous I was to go into that MRI machine this time, but You had prepared the way. How narrow that machine was, and how narrow is the gate to salvation! Not everyone responds to salvation in Your Son. But one soul You had ready to go through that narrow gate to Heaven! Jesus, You sent Your servant to encourage me, quote Your Word to me, and place his hands on my ankles, as You would, to help me get through that exam. And You had prepared a soul to believe in You that he may be with You for eternity. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who strengthened me in You, to keep my mind focused on what soul You might be pursuing, as my emotions were on edge. But you stood on the edge with me, as my ROCK!”