昏睡状態から目覚めたなおたかさんに、医者は、「一生寝たきりとなる」との診断を下しました。その後も徐々に回復し、ベッドから起き上がって車いすを使えるようになったら、今度は、「一生歩けない」との診断が彼に下されました。
その頃、彼はある宣教師と出会いました。その宣教師の友達が、彼をスポーツクラブに連れて行き、なおたかさんはトレーニングを進めながら、少しずつ歩けるようになりました。
12年前に、彼は古里の静岡へ帰り、我が教会のメンバーとなりました。
数年前、なおたかさんの体に震えが起こり始めました。3年前に、手術を受けましたが、逆に震えは悪化してしまいました。しかし、この12年間、私達は、なおたかさんのために、諦めずに何百回となく祈ってきました。
ある日私は、「多くの人が、何回も祈ってくれても、なかなか治らないことに、あなたは失望しないのですか？」と彼に質問してみました。
「何を言っているんですか！僕は、18年前、既に死んでいた者なんですよ！」彼がそう答えました。
かつての医者の診断が、何一つ成就されておらず、こうやって生きている事に感謝しながら、なおたかさんは常に明るい態度で生きています。
先週の日曜日、集会の後に、なおたかさんが私と妻に声をかけてきました。何かが違うと、すぐ気付きました。彼の体の震えが止まっているのです。
医療では説明がつきません。診断によると、彼の病状は悪化する一方のはずなのです。18年前から下されて来た、医者の診断を信じ、受け入れていたなら、なおたかさんはもう死んでいます。生きていても、植物人間、若しくは、車いすの生活をしており、体の震えを伴っている事でしょう。
なおたかさんの完全な癒しを続けて一緒に信じ、祈って下さい。
主が御子、また教会を通して全ての栄光を受けますように。
静岡市、リッキー・ゴードンからの証し
From Ricky Gordon of Gordons' Equipping Ministries (GEMs)
http://gordonjapn.blogspot.com/
About 18 years ago Naotaka was a foreign student in America when he had a car accident that left him in a coma with little hope of any recovery. His parents quickly flew to America, hoping to see him one last time before he died. When he didn’t die the doctors pronounced, “He will never regain consciousness.” The family flew him back to Japan, still in a coma.
When he came out of the coma the Japanese doctors told the family, “He’ll be bedridden the rest of his life.” When he was able to get out of bed and into a wheel chair, the “official word” was, “He’ll never walk again.” Naotaka was befriended by a former Marine sniper turned missionary who took him to the gym. The guys at the gym helped and encouraged him to regain his strength. Slowly Naotaka was able to walk again. He was still unsteady, but he was walking. Then his family returned to the father’s hometown—our city. Naotaka has been a faithful member now for about 12 years.
A few years ago he began to shake, almost uncontrollably. It made me very nervous to watch him try to get a cup of hot coffee to his mouth. About 3 years ago the doctors tried an experimental electrical implant into his brain hoping to stop the tremors. Naotaka actually got worse. Through all this we have prayed. We have prayed for Naotaka hundreds of times over the past 12 years.
I once asked him, “Don’t you get discouraged having people pray for you all the time and seeing such little results?"
He responded, “No. I’m supposed to be dead!” Even though he had extensive brain and nerve damage his English has remained far better than most of my university students! His attitude has remained positive most of the time as he remembers all the doctors predictions that did NOT come to pass.
Last Sunday, Naotaka called my wife and I over to him at lunch. He asked us to look at him and tell him what was different. At first it didn’t hit us. Then we realized he wasn’t shaking. Naotaka said the doctor had confirmed that 90% of his shaking had stopped. Indeed, as he talked to us and we stared at him, he was as steady as anyone else in the room. He did NOT shake at all. The doctors have no explanation. He should be getting worse—not better. But, if we listened to them he should be dead or bedridden or wheel chair bound or shaking himself to pieces.
Believe with us, with Naotaka, for a full recovery. Agree with us that God will be glorified through His son and through His church!
