Why Bike Across America?

It is often said, “Life is short.” At the age of 34, I was forced to confront that reality in a new way. Words can’t describe the many thoughts and emotions that whirled in my mind when the doctor said, “heart disease.” How could this be? I was young and had always enjoyed an energetic and healthy lifestyle. Why was this happening to me? What would happen to my family? How would this affect my life? Was I going to die? I had no answers to these questions. Instead, I faced the reality of my own mortality—I was going to die!

Not wanting to die, I met with doctors at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio hoping that they had a solution. I was delighted when I learned I was to have a Ross Procedure performed on my heart. In January 2003, my faulty aortic valve was replaced with a human donor valve. My operation was a success. I had received a most wonderful gift. I had received a valve from someone else. Through another’s death, I had hope again. I was going to live! I had renewed hope. I had life!

In the days following my operation I have often pondered the similarities between my heart problems and our own spiritual condition. According to God’s Words I realized certain things:

I was going to die.

I was without hope.

I found hope, because someone died.

I could receive the gift and live.

My friend, life is short. None of us has a guarantee for tomorrow. Decisions we make today are vitally important. You may not be facing heart disease, but spiritually, you are facing the same needs that I was facing. My friend, you are also facing similar decisions.

Someday you are going to die. That thought alone does not offer much hope, but there is hope through Jesus Christ. Jesus died and gave His life that you might live forever. He took our heart problem–our sin–and bore it on the cross so that He could offer us the gift of eternal life. Isn’t that the greatest hope we could ever realize? Are you prepared for eternity? Jesus waits to hear from you. Will you accept His free gift?

Life is uncertain James 4.13-17
Christ died for us John 3.16
So that we can have full hope Romans 5.1-5

Ken and Renee Dockery,
Cedarville, Ohio