Like many, the way that Grandpa impacted me the most was through his prayers. Grandpa loved the Lord Jesus sincerely from the heart, and his prayers flowed from the depths of his soul, constantly manifesting a recognition of the complete dependence of a sinner upon the grace of his Savior. His prayers taught me to depend on Christ, that spiritual strength begins with a humble acknowledgment of human weakness, and that the insufficiency of man finds its solution in the all-sufficiency of Christ.
I found out about Grandpa's homegoing just a few hours after a meeting with a group of radical M-usl ims during a ministry trip with our students to a region a few hundred kilometers from Odessa. In this meeting, one of their leaders confided in me how heavy the burden of their religion is for them, how it brings them so many problems but no joy, and how relieved they would be if they could be convinced that this terrible burden had not been imposed upon them by a god whom they believe to be "both good and evil." What a contrast it was so soon after this meeting, to hear that Grandpa was already experiencing the fulfillment of all the promises made by our Lord Jesus, who said, "MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light." When I got the news, I could not help but rejoice, for there was at that moment such a striking contrast between light and darkness; between grace and works; between freedom and slavery; and most of all--between repetious prayers from an unwilling heart addressed to a vengeful and arbitrary god, and Grandpa's prayers spoken from a loving heart to his "Abba-Father." How precious the gospel is!
Grandpa's life was not easy, and he experienced many trials and tribulations, but through it all he walked with God, found strength and joy in the arms of his Heavenly Father, and left a legacy of faith that this world so desperately needs. May Jesus Christ be praised for completing the work that He began in Grandpa so many years ago, and may we all be faithful to follow in his footsteps so that his legacy of faith may be passed on to our children and the perishing souls all around us.
The Shepherd Reunion has already begun, and Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Drew, and Uncle Ron are already celebrating. May the rest of us be faithful until we arrive.
-Bret
I found out about Grandpa's homegoing just a few hours after a meeting with a group of radical M-usl ims during a ministry trip with our students to a region a few hundred kilometers from Odessa. In this meeting, one of their leaders confided in me how heavy the burden of their religion is for them, how it brings them so many problems but no joy, and how relieved they would be if they could be convinced that this terrible burden had not been imposed upon them by a god whom they believe to be "both good and evil." What a contrast it was so soon after this meeting, to hear that Grandpa was already experiencing the fulfillment of all the promises made by our Lord Jesus, who said, "MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light." When I got the news, I could not help but rejoice, for there was at that moment such a striking contrast between light and darkness; between grace and works; between freedom and slavery; and most of all--between repetious prayers from an unwilling heart addressed to a vengeful and arbitrary god, and Grandpa's prayers spoken from a loving heart to his "Abba-Father." How precious the gospel is!
Grandpa's life was not easy, and he experienced many trials and tribulations, but through it all he walked with God, found strength and joy in the arms of his Heavenly Father, and left a legacy of faith that this world so desperately needs. May Jesus Christ be praised for completing the work that He began in Grandpa so many years ago, and may we all be faithful to follow in his footsteps so that his legacy of faith may be passed on to our children and the perishing souls all around us.
The Shepherd Reunion has already begun, and Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Drew, and Uncle Ron are already celebrating. May the rest of us be faithful until we arrive.
-Bret
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