A Message of Grace!

Ryan James Krafft

I was a teenager, in the prime of my life, partying and having a good time with my “friends” and drinking and doing drugs. Being 19 I thought it would be alright to go to Canada drinking and then drive back across the bridge. (I live in Port Huron MI, less than 5 minutes from Sarnia, Ontario.) Then, tragically, on July 26, 1998, on my way back home from Canada I was in a severe automobile crash. Like most young people I thought I was invincible and never thought about the consequences of my choices. Sadly I had to learn the hard way, but I’m writing this now so you can learn from my mistakes. I’ve heard it said, “Learn from other peoples mistakes, we don’t live long enough to make them all ourselves.”

After the crash I was in a coma for just under a month, teetering between life and death. When I woke up, I couldn’t move or even make a sound. I was literally trapped in my own body. A prison, of my own making! From that point I’ve worked my way, yet not I but the grace of God with me, to be able to move all my limbs, talk and eat. I can even walk with a walker. But I’ll never be like I was before.

On March 4, 2001 I learned some more devastating information, I was not alone. My friend Geoff Harris was with me and his neck was broken upon impact and he died instantly. I do not remember most of the week preceding the crash, let alone the crash itself. My first feeling was shock and numbness. Then I started blaming myself and I was angry with God. I thought, “Lord I thought I knew You and then I find out something like this.” I wrestled with God for a several days when God, the Holy Spirit, reminded me of this verse: “I am the same yesterday, today and forever.” What God was trying to tell me was this: “I (God) haven’t changed you have.” After blaming myself a few more days I thought, “This isn’t what God wants of me” so ultimately I had to give up my grief and hard feelings to the Lord.

Now you may be asking yourself, “Why was this kept from him”. You must understand my state of mind right after the crash, I was weak and leaning toward suicide anyhow, and knowing something like this would have pushed me over the edge. My parents were advised to keep this from me, as it wouldn’t do me any good to know. An example of God’s perfect timing, He waited until I was strong spiritually and wouldn’t you know it after a 3 month break from my Christian psychologist, David Goetze, I had an appointment scheduled for the next day.

Some of you may be asking, “Don’t you get depressed and stuff?” Of course I do, I just try to hold on to Words the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past.” So rather than look back and say, “I should have,” or “If only I would’ve”, I focus on the present and the glory God can bring Himself through me.

But the central purpose of this message is don’t drink and drive, and, more importantly, seek the Lord while He can be found. “For it has been appointed for man to die once and then face judgment.” (Heb 9:27).