The Jim Gemmell Story
Edinburgh,
Scotland
IDOL OF METAL AND GLASS -
Indeed, I was paralyzed from the waist down. Years
earlier, I had given my heart to Jesus Christ at a meeting in the Usher
Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. After getting married to my wife, I remained
faithful to the Lord for about ten years. Then slowly another "god" began
to steal the worship of my heart: Motor racing. Before long, I was reading
car manuals instead of my Bible. I had lost sight of God but in my mind's
eye I could visualize every curve of the track that I loved. Soon motor
racing had taken over my whole life. Even my wife and kids became obsessed
with it, becoming immersed in the races and the partying, which went hand-in-hand
with the sport. Now the sport that had captured my family and my soul had
ravaged my body as well.
A WORLD OF HURT -
For five days I slipped in and out of consciousness.
Eight pints of blood were needed to counteract the blood loss from severe
internal injuries. My injuries were substantial, including seventeen broken
bones on the right side of my body, between my ribs and knees. There was
a spiral break in my thigh and my hip joint was completely shattered. I
spent the next four months in traction, during which time the pain was
so severe that I had soon developed an addiction to pain killers. In fact,
in addition to the prescribed dose the nurses gave me, I took handfuls
of painkillers daily from a secret stash hidden in my hospital locker.
The orthopedic surgeon finally broke the news that my joint movement would
never be normal, and that I would never walk properly, or live without
pain, again. The only help he could offer was to put a pin through my hip
to immobilize the joint. The surgery was scheduled to take place in six
months. With nothing to do but await my surgery, I was sent home in a wheelchair,
my body racked with pain, my dreams in broken shards around me.
GUILTY AS CHARGED -
During the months of waiting, my two daughters attended
a religious meeting in Usher Hall in Edinburgh where I had surrendered
my life to Jesus many years before. There, Jesus met them, too, and became
Lord of their lives. I was thrilled at the news of their salvation. Yet
at the same time, the good news made me realize that, in all my years as
their father, I had never once told them about Jesus. If I had found the
physical pain to be a crushing experience, the devastating impact of the
guilt that I felt was absolutely unbearable. I had let down my family and
my Lord. My guilt was so great that I could not seem to receive God's forgiveness
for this wrong.
RESTORED AT LAST -
Then one Monday night I attended an evening service
in a church just outside Glasgow. At the end of the service, I heard the
preacher say, "Would those wishing prayer for healing please come forward."
And before I even realized what I was doing, I discovered that I had left
my seat and was dragging myself to the front of the church. By this time,
I had mastered a sort of walking, using a crutch and dragging my damaged
leg behind me. I wore a built-up shoe to compensate for the fact that my
injured leg was now shorter than the other one, and I remained in constant
pain. When I finally reached the front, I sat down in a chair and put my
head in my hands as two men came forward and began to pray for me. As they
did, I cried a big pool of tears on the floor at my feet. They finished
their prayer. I thought nothing had happened. But then I stood up and realized
I could move without pain. Then I took a step forward and stumbled. Not
only was my leg pain-free, but it also matched the other leg in length!
It was so wonderful! I was free of pain for the first time since the crash,
but what was even more wonderful was the release I felt inside. The burden
of guilt had vanished, and I knew that Jesus had forgiven me. That night
I went home to my wife, Jean, and demonstrated what God had done by running
- running! - around our garden! A few monthhs later, I kept the appointment
that had been made with the orthopedic surgeon. At this time I was examined
by a medical professor. "When did the pain leave?" he asked me. "The moment
they laid hands on me and prayed in the Name of Jesus Christ," I replied.
The doctor turned to his students. "I can only find the restriction that
I would expect in someone of this age. We must discharge this man, as there
has been a Higher Authority at work." Since that time, I've seen many miracles
come to pass - including the wonderful day my son also invited Jesus into
his life. But what amazes me still, even after all these years, is how
- even after I had lost interest in God - HHe loved me enough to give me
a second chance at life here on earth, and at life in eternity with Him
as well. I was racing toward destruction. Jesus brought me healing and
triumph. And I know He can do the same for you!
Jim Gemmell is the former
owner of Easipak Products, a small leather manufacturer employing ten people,
and is now retired. He and his wife, Jean, have three children -
Katie, Tony and Carolyn.
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