Dr. Law and Dr. Grace
by Evangelist Lester Roloff (1914 - 1982)
In rebellion and desperation I said, "Dr. Law, I'm going to another doctor," to which he said, "The woods are full of them, but you'll never get well until your heart is made right." I said to Dr. Law, "Would you recommend any other doctor for a consultation?" He said, "There is only one doctor I would recommend and if you won't listen to me, you'll never go to him and I'll never recommend another."
So I beat it down the street and knock on Dr. Religion's door and it seems like he's a real scout, he's a regular fellow, and he said, "Come on in here, Lester Roloff, I'm glad to see you. I've been up to see old Dr. Law." To which Dr. Religion said, "Oh, he's ancient - he's an antique. Modern folks don't go to him. He hasn't had the proper training. He doesn't know anything about the latest modes of medicine."
Well, that sounded good to me and I said, "I don't like him myself. Dr. Religion, would you just kind of run over me and see what's wrong?" He said, "Sure!" After his examination, he said, "Why, there's nothing seriously wrong with you. I recommend that you start going to church." And I said, "Which one?" "Oh", he said, "just any of them will be all right."
So the next Sunday, I was in church and the next - but I didn't get any better. I went back to Dr. Religion and I said, "Dr. Religion, I don't believe I'm any better." He said, "Well, did you start going to church?" I said, "Sure. I've been going every Sunday." Then he said, "Did you join and get baptized?" "Why", I said "no." He said, "Do that - that will make you feel better." I said, "I'll sure do it and get my wife to also."
So I went down to the church and joined it and got baptized, but I didn't feel any better for very long and I went back to Dr. Religion and I said, "Dr. Religion, there's something wrong - I'm not really any better." "Well," he said, "are you really working at it? Take a job in the church and start helping others." And so I did.
But I got weary in the struggle and somebody recommended a couple of brothers who were doctors - Dr. Be Good and Dr. Do Good - and I went to them, but to no avail. There was no certainty and no assurance of salvation. And then somebody recommended Dr. Hope So. After which I went to Dr. Think So and neither one of them was able to help me and now - weary, tired exhausted, in despair and at the end of self - I decided I'd go back to Dr. Law.
Dr. Law was waiting for me - the same stern, obstinate old doctor - with the same diagnosis, "It's your heart," to which I said, "What do you recommend?" He said, "Only one thing will do and that's an operation. Your heart will have to come out and a new one put in." I said, "Dr. Law, when will you operate?" And he said, "I don't operate." To which I said, "You mean I'm going to have to die even though you know what's wrong with me?" "I didn't say," returned Dr. Law, "that you had to die. So far as I'm concerned, you've got to die - I only make the diagnosis. But if you really want to live, I'll tell you what to do."
And so this trembling, perspiring sinner looked into the face of this unrelenting doctor and said, "Please help me!" and he took me by the hand and led me across the hall and knocked on an office door and a handsome, loving, smiling doctor came to the door and Dr. Law said, "Dr. Grace, this is Lester Roloff, and he's got the same trouble all my other patients that I've brought to you have had. He's coming t you for an operation."
By that time, Dr. Law had slipped away and gone back into his office and left me standing alone in the presence of Dr. Grace and fear and trembling, the questions began to come.
First, "Dr. Grace, will you let Dr. Law or some other doctor help you operate?" And he said, "No, I've never had any help." I said, "Dr. Grace, have you some good nurses?" He said, "No sir. I've never had a nurse - I do it all." I said, "Dr. Grace, will you give me a good anaesthetic and put me into a deep sleep?" He said, "No, sir. I never give anaesthetics because I want you to know what I did for you so you can tell the world about it." I said, "Dr. Grace, will you let me call my wife and let her come and stand by me?" And Dr. Grace smiled and said, "No, son, this is a personal matter just between me and you. You can tell her after it's all over."
I said, "Dr. Grace, I'm scared," and he said, as he placed his big hand on my trembling shoulder, "You don't have to be afraid - I've never lost a case. This will be a successful operation." I said, "Dr. Grace, what about the charges and the expense of this tremendous operation?" He said, "It's already paid for." I said, "Who paid for it?" He said, "A Friend of yours." "Oh," I said, "I'd like to meet Him." He said, "After the operation, I'll let you meet Him, I'll introduce you to Him."
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