November 14, 2023

Ten years ago, I made a solemn dedication to God. “I solemnly vowed to take God as my whole portion and felicity, looking to nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were.” It doesn’t seem like it has teeth until the next part of it: “Everything that goes into or attaches to me is dedicated to Him.” 

Several years ago, I had a tooth pulled because it had an abscess; it was in the back, so it was not a big deal. I have a new dentist specializing in implants and thought getting a new tooth would be a good idea. It required a bone graft, but I didn’t think about what that meant. Where would the bone come from? It turns out that they use cadaver bones. When he told me it came from a cadaver, because of my vow, I should have rejected it and walked out, but I didn’t. I don’t know the person who donated their bone; all I know is they are dead. Old Testament law states you are unclean if you touch a dead body or are even near one and must go through a cleansing process. God knew the person that bone belonged to. Though we are not under Old Testament law, and I stay clean because of Jesus, portions are still in effect, like vows. An example would be Ananias and Sapphira, who held back part of the money they dedicated to God; they dropped dead! 

After a couple of weeks, I was still in pain, and the graft never took, so I had it removed on Friday, and it’s already healed. Side note: until I re-read my vow this morning, I didn’t remember including the part about everything going into or attaching to me. Ugh! The things I go through to teach a lesson!! Warning! Be careful of the vows you make to God. He doesn’t forget the commitment you made to him. 

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2