July 29. Thirteen days, long days, had passed since the killer earthquake struck.
Tony is dead. He passed away two days ago.
“If you survive,” he appealed to Daniel, “please tell my family about the Lord.”
“Yes… I promise…” Daniel replied.
“Please tell them that I love them,” he said. “Mahal ko sila…”
(“I love them…”)
“Tony, kung uuwi ka na,” Daniel said, “sana wala na ang galit sa puso mo. Ngayong natanggap mo na si Jesus, ipagpa-ubaya mo na ang paghihiganti sa Kanya.”
(“Tony, if you are going to die,” “I hope there is no longer any hatred in your heart. Now that you have received Jesus in your life, leave all retribution to Him.”)
Tony received the Lord on the 9th day of their ordeal, totally surrendering himself to the will of God.
Daniel led him in a prayer of acceptance of Christ as Savior of his soul, and Lord and God of his life.
“Wala na ang galit ko. Ipinapanalangin ko na ang aking mga kaaway… sana’y matagpuan din nila ang pagpapatawad at kapayapaan na tanging si Jesus lamang ang makakapagbigay.”
(“There’s no more hatred in me. I have already prayed for my enemies… I hope that they, too, will discover the forgiveness and peace that only Jesus can give.”)
A few minutes after he said these words, Tony felt cold.
“Daniel… nanlalamig ako… palagay ko, malapit na…”
(“Daniel… I feel cold… I think my time is near…”)
“Takot ka pa bang mamatay?” Daniel asked.
(“Are you afraid of death?”)
“Hindi na… Gusto ko na ring magpahinga…”
(“Not anymore… I now want to rest...”)
Several minutes later, when Daniel tried to talk to him again, he no longer replied.
“Lord, please be merciful to his soul.”
. . .
This time, two days after Tony passed away, Daniel also felt cold.
He sensed that death was coming, and coming fast. The words of the Lord Jesus in John, chapter 11 verse 25, flashed in his mind.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
“Lord, I believe… I believe…” he said
Faith. It matters a lot to a dying man.
At the last moment of one’s life, all dreams, all hopes, all cares are but parcels of memories. What is left for the future, which is but a breath away, is faith – faith in the One who has sanctified His blood for the redemption of our sins.
Daniel recited Psalm 23 aloud:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me,
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
He felt colder, weaker. He began to lose consciousness.
“Ma… Pa… Rose…” he said in tears.
(“Mother… Father… Rose...”)
These were his last words.
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11
Even The Grass Bleeds Page 11