Last week Val Thomas, a West Virginia woman, dead for 17 hours by a clinical definition of "dead," came back to "life" and renewed interest in the question, "When does death occur?"

    She had suffered two heart attacks and had no pulse and no brain waves. Although rigor mortis set in, her hands and toes curled, and her skin hardened, doctors kept her on a breathing machine and her body chilled while they waited to determine if she was an organ donor. Meanwhile her family said their goodbyes and prayed.

    Ten minutes after doctors pulled all tubes of life support from her body her family began praising the Lord.

    Her son said, "That’s when Jesus stepped in and did His work."

    Val opened her eyes and started talking to her family.

    After a thorough check up, her doctors reported no blockages and said she’ll be fine.

    So the question is, when does death really occur?

    Some doctors say a person is dead when the heart stops beating.

    Others say a person is dead when there is no brain activity.

    But Val Thomas proved what the Bible has said all along.

    It’s the breath of the Almighty that gives life, (Job 33:4 NIV), and man perishes when God withdraws His breath (Job 34:14 NIV).

    Val herself thinks her comeback is a God-given miracle. She said, "I know God has something in store for me, another purpose. I don’t know what it is but I’m sure He’ll tell me."

    Maybe the message He has for all of us is that He is still sovereign over all nations, all people, and each one of us from the first breath He gives to the last one He withdraws.

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