Have you ever seen a miracle? I have have seen some in my lifetime. This past Sunday, I was able to listen to a living, breathing miracle share his testimony. Christopher Coleman, of Empowered Ministries, shared his life story from his wheelchair. He was born stillborn and put aside while his mother gave birth to his twin sister, who was born 15 minutes later. When his sister cried, the doctors heard two cries, which was the beginning of his amazing testimony. This young man intertwined humor with griping stories of his constant battle to live, get an education, and succeed in a world that said he would never be more than a vegetable. He is now the only college graduate in his family and he travels the world telling his story of the goodness of God and how He has a purpose for all of us.
In John 5:1-9 we read about a man at the Bethesda pool who had been there for thirty-eight years unable to get into the pool for healing. When Jesus approached him, He asked “Do you want to get well?” The man wasn’t listening to Jesus. He was too busy making excuses to hear Jesus offering him an opportunity for healing. Many of us are like the man by the Bethesda pool. We can’t hear Jesus offering us healing or a way out of our troubles, because we’re too busy generating our list of excuses of why we’re where we are.
Chris put it this way, “I’m not the only one in a wheelchair. Every one of you is in a wheelchair of your own; the only difference is you can see mine.” Then he proceeded to climb out of his wheelchair with great effort and declared, “I’ve climbed out of my wheelchair because God has a purpose in my life.” He vowed his wheelchair would not hold him back from all God had planned for him [Jeremiah 29:11]. He vowed to live a life of purpose. My question for you today is will you? Will you let go of whatever fear or excuse holding you back and climb out of your wheelchair to walk in the purposes of God for your life?
I’ll leave you with one final quote from Chris…”If you’re not doing something in your life that only God can do, you’re living a confined life.” John 8:36 says “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” It’s time to live free.

Learn more about Christopher Coleman at www.christophercoleman.net