From the Archives: Summer 2011

Written by Gary Pitts

I was nine years old when I asked Jesus into my heart to save me. As a child, I struggled with my salvation until I was twelve. At the age of twelve, I was baptized and became a member of my family’s church.

A few years later as a member of the Royal Ambassadors, I heard a Salvation Army surgeon speak at a rescue mission in Bristol, Tenn. The surgeon said that Jesus died of a broken heart. I never forgot those words.

God’s Path, Illuminated

In 1966, I graduated from high school and entered college. While in college, I felt the Lord leading me into the medical field. In 1970, I entered medical school in Memphis, Tenn. My desire was to become a heart surgeon; however, the Lord led me into the field of urology.

While in medical school, I had a kidney stone that would not pass. During that time, my mother was praying for me and she had also sent a prayer request to the Oral Roberts’ Prayer Tower. After six days of prayer, God answered her prayers. Just before surgery to remove the stone, it passed. It was at this time that I had decided to become a urologist.

The More I Studied His Word, the More My Faith Grew

Before I entered medical school, I met and married Susan Smith. We moved to Memphis in 1970 and began looking for a church. Due to fact that we did not have a car, we found a church within walking distance. The church was Belleview Baptist Church and one of our pastors was Dr. Adrian Rogers.

Dr. Rogers introduced us to the book of Revelation and to Bible prophecy. Before this time I knew very little about the second coming of Jesus. With his teachings and personal study, I began to look forward to the second coming of the Lord. Also, I found the more I studied God‘s Word, the stronger my faith grew.

After graduating from medical school, I moved my family to Winston-Salem where I entered my urology residency. In 1979, we moved to Boone, where I went into practice with Dr. Jim Hamby.

Miracle-Working God

During the years we have lived in Boone, I have seen God work miracles in the lives of His people. There was the miracle of healing.

A patient of mine who had aggressive cancer had decided not to have surgery due to his bad heart. Instead, he decided to believe God for his healing. He had the elders of his church lay hands on him and pray for his healing. When he returned to my office, a second biopsy was done and the cancer was gone. It was at this time that I began to see the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of His people.

In a Wednesday night service at our church, I stood up and testified of this healing. In the congregation was a lady who had an inoperable tumor that was about the size of a grapefruit. She asked her pastor and the deacons to anoint her with oil and pray for her healing.

As they were praying for her healing, one of the deacons thanked God for her healing. What a man of faith. Three weeks later, this lady went to the Baptist Hospital for radiation treatments, only to find out the tumor was gone. Even today God is still working miracles in the lives of His people.

Jesus’ Crucifixion Brings Redemption, Eternal Life, Hope

As I said before, I never forgot what the Salvation Army surgeon said about the death of Jesus. I have spent many years studying the crucifixion. The prophet Isaiah tells us in Isaiah chapter fifty three: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus was the Sacrifice consumed for us. He was marred more than any man has ever been marred. While on earth, He suffered the wrath of man. While on the cross, He suffered the wrath of God.

I am thoroughly convinced that Jesus died of a broken heart. The Bible tells us that Jesus’ side was pierced with a spear. Out of His side came blood and water. In the medical field, this happens when the heart has been taxed to the limit. Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb for three days and on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead victorious.

The death of Jesus brings us redemption, the resurrection of Jesus brings us eternal life, and the second coming of the Jesus brings us hope that one day we will see Him face to face.

Soon We Will See the Coming of the Lord

Prophecy has been my passion and I enjoy hearing teachers of prophecies such Hal Lindsey, Kay Arthur, Joel Rosenberg, Dr. David Jeremiah, Grant Jefferies, Stephen Davey and others. As I see signs of the end of time being fulfilled daily, my faith is strengthened. It is fearful what is coming upon the earth, yet it is exciting as well.

It is my prayer that in these last days we will be witnesses of the saving grace of God. The time is short. Soon we will see the coming of the Lord.

There are those, even in the Christian community, who say, “There are other ways to Heaven”. The Bible tells us clearly that there is only one way to come into the presence of God. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.

Editor’s Note: Gary Pitts has since passed away. He was a great man of faith and we hope this article honors him and encourages others. Thank you Dr.Pitts for all you did and the way you loved Christ.