Today’s exhortation – There was a man who stood alone
What you are about to read is a testament to the power of prayer. In January 2014, I sent out a prayer request for my friend’s dad Mr John Whitby who had been diagnosed with cancer in all his major organs and had been given a few weeks to live. When we began praying for him, he didn’t believe in God let alone Jesus so we prayed that The Lord will not only heal him, but save him as well. A few weeks later, he had an out of body experience on the operating table and when he came to, he told those around him he had been to heaven and no longer feared death. He lived on for another 10 months and was able to do the things he wanted to do before he passed. Sadly he died last November, but before he did, he wrote a poem which he gave instructions to my friend to be read when he was gone. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who prayed and to also let you know that God answered our prayers. He wasn’t healed, but Jesus did reveal Himself to him and he accepted Jesus as His Lord and saviour. We had no idea he had been saved till this. I am honoured to present this poem by Mr John Whitby.
There was a man who stood alone —
BY JOHN WHITBY
There was a man who stood alone,
He had a kingdom but no throne
He took his place among us,
He had a face that we could trust
His eyes are blue and shone so bright,
He was to be our leading light
He held his hand out to the sick,
He took away the cripple’s stick
His hands were soft and arms so long,
He gave back hope where hope had gone
His quiet voice we heard so clear,
He healed the deaf when they were near
He took our pain and made us smile,
The sun did shine but for a while
He gave us hope in faith so strong,
We knew that it could not be wrong
Friends he had, that followed him,
The man that could forgive all sin
And at that time we know so well,
He gave us heaven, we showed him hell
For all our sins he had to die, there on a cross we know not why
And yet one day he’ll come back here,
What will be left is what I fear
There was a man who stood alone
We let him go, our father’s son!
Francis Hans-Jorie
