The Deacon died, knowing that for him there was a future,

because God had promised.

It was called to a hospital, to the deathbed of a servant of God,

who was dying an inch at a time through a particular virulent form of cancer.

And after months in misery, the hospital called his wife and said,

today it is likely that he will die.

And as I got to the hospital and beheld his emaciated body, I was moved.

And in somebody in that situation, you want to do something for that person.

I couldn't administer medical drugs, I wasn't a physician.

So I held his hand, and I tenderly wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

He was barely able to utter any sounds at all, and I said,

what can I do?

He said, read the book.

First I took some ice and put it on his lips and opened up the drawer

and pulled out the Bible and turned to the book of Hebrews.

And I read to him the promises that God had made for the future of the people of God

for that country and that city whose builder and maker is God.

And I read that passage from Hebrews which said,

and because God could swear by nothing greater, he swore by himself.

And as I read it, the Deacon tried to move the corners of his mouth

into a smile and squeeze my hair.

And he shut his eyes and he died, knowing that for him there was a future

...