Tear the Roof Off

In Luke 8:13, the Lord preached inside a house surrounded by a diverse group of onlookers. Some were there to hear the Word, but others, the Lord’s critics, were there to catch Him at His Word to blame Him—something He was constantly plagued with. “Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him” (Luke 11:54).

A physically impaired man confined to a bed had four friends who desperately wanted him healed. Undeterred by the blocked doorway, the team hoisted the man upon the housetop, ripped up the roof, and lowered the man into the presence of Jesus. The Lord perceived their dogged faith, and at one command, the man took up his bed and walked out of the house while giving glory to God. He received a major miracle. I, too, received a rooftop miracle that I want to share with the reader.

A corner of our roof leaked where the garage and an upstairs bedroom joined. We had a local roofer repair it for about $200.00. It held up for two seasons before the leak reappeared on the interior garage ceiling. Again, we got a patch job done that lasted for a few months. By the spring of the following year, my daughter pointed to the stained ceiling just above her bedroom door.

I sighed and decided that it was time to call the insurance company to see what they could do about this menacing problem. The adjuster sharply questioned me. “How many times did you get the corner repaired? Why did you wait so long to call us? Send me a picture of the upstairs ceiling, but I will tell you, Mr. Pugh, we won’t cover the damage. Your deductible will swallow up any repair costs. You can submit a claim, but I believe that you are wasting your time.”

I remembered that the Word says, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again” (1 Peter 2:23). The word revile means to speak abusively against, to criticize sharply, to scold, or to berate angrily. And while she was not quite this caustic, she was nonetheless direct, unkind, and sharp. (Actually, she was doing her job by protecting the interests of the insurance company.) Though I thought about clapping back, I Peter 2:23 kept me composed, and I told her about putting three kids through college and the current financial difficulty that I was experiencing. Her piercing tone dissipated as it was engulfed by a pregnant pause. With a soft voice, she responded, “You know, Mr. Pugh, I am going to go to bat for you! You will hear back from our company in a few days.” Within three days, I received a voicemail message saying, “Mr. Pugh, our company has decided to replace your roof. Please have a roofing repair company send us your bill, and the check will be in the mail.”

I was floored. There was no drama, no inspection, no adjuster—just a check coming in the mail. Here I was trying to get a corner repaired when God wanted to give me, much like the man with the palsy, a miracle and tear the entire roof off! It was a miracle that I am shouting from the rooftop. Take the limits off of a God in whom the “heavens of heavens cannot contain” (1 Kings 8:27). Believe big and receive big! Later, I was able to personally thank this dear woman, share my faith, and pray for her newborn grandchild. (And I was so glad that I didn’t clap back!) To God be the glory!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

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