Isaiah 55:6-7
Turn to the Lord!
He can still be found.
Call out to God! He is near.
Give up your crooked ways
and your evil thoughts.
Return to the Lord our God.
He will be merciful
and forgive your sins.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A
few days ago, a friend of mine posted a video of a baptism she
performed in her church. She wrote... “God has truly blessed us through
this church and her people. Had a steeple dedication this morning and
baptized a couple that has been married 73 years. Met on the lawn of the
church. He is 94 and she is 90. They have been attending for years and
joined the church today. Words cannot express my joy....Thank you
Jesus.”
This reminded me of my grandmother’s “companion”, whom
she met after my grandfather died in 1984. My grandparents were married
almost 52 years. When my grandfather left us, Mam-ma Polly was
incredibly lonely. She “kissed a few toads” before she began “keeping
company” with Delbert, who everyone called “Deb”. Mam-ma Polly and Deb
were inseparable for about seven years. They never married and
maintained their own homes...but they did everything together. She
cooked breakfast for him at one of their houses, and then they would
“garden” or visit others, shop together, and more for much of each day.
They both returned to their respective houses many afternoons for a nap
before sharing dinner and “Wheel of Fortune” or “Lawrence Welk”
together...and three nights a week, they danced at a local social hall.
On Sundays they attended church services together.
Deb became
like a second grandfather to us. He endeared himself to all of us, and
we grew to love him. He was tremendously supportive to Mam-ma Polly
when my brother Tim died...and again 13 months later when my dad – her
only son – left us for heaven. And then Deb got sick. He was diagnosed
with bladder cancer. Over the course of several weeks, he took some
radiation treatments that left him weak and tired, and Mam-ma “nursed”
him as best she could.
Here’s the kicker...this sweet, generous,
kind and loving man had never given his heart to Jesus. He attended
church services with Mam-ma on Sundays, but he really didn’t know much
about the Bible...or how much God loved him. He did not have any
understanding of spending eternity in heaven at the feet of Jesus. I’m
pretty sure Deb knew he had sins in his life...but he did not realize
that Jesus could – and would – forgive him of them. Mam-ma Polly set in
to change this!
My grandmother began talking to Deb about
Jesus...and heaven. She told me that one night as she and Deb sat on
the couch, she fell to her knees and - through her tears - she told him,
“I don’t think I can bear it if I get to heaven and you’re not there.”
She shared with Deb once more how easy it was to ask Jesus to forgive
his sins and invite Him to live in his heart...and Deb did exactly that.
This
87-year-old man had served in the Army in Germany during WWII, where he
found himself behind enemy lines for several days at one point - and
once related to Greg how he felt the “whoosh” of a German bullet as it
passed by his ear. Deb had lived all these years without the peace of
Jesus in his heart. He had married, reared three children, faced the
death of his wife and countless loved ones, and endured a myriad of life
experiences...all without the confidence that Jesus was guiding his
steps. I am convinced that Jesus poured out His grace and mercy over
Deb...that He had His hand on this situation all along...that He placed
my grandmother in this man’s path to lead him into a relationship with
Jesus – and assured that we will all see him again someday in heaven.
Even
though he was sick, Deb was like a “new man”...because he truly was. I
bought him a Bible, and as his body betrayed him, he read the
scriptures and was renewed. As I sat with him on his last earthly day
and held his hand, I knew that Jesus was there...holding him tenderly
and ushering him fully into His presence. And as I read my friend’s
post about the 90-something couple in her congregation, I was once again
reminded...as long as we draw breath, it.is.never.too.late. God can still be found. He will be merciful and forgive our sins, through the blood of Jesus.
My
prayer today is two-fold...1) that we would not spend decades without
Jesus...that we would turn to Him sooner, rather than later, and walk in
His amazing grace and mercy; and 2) that we would take a page from my
Mam-ma Polly’s book...that we would “fall to our knees” and make every
effort to bring those in our midst into their own personal relationship
with Jesus. I pray that we would make sure that heaven is FILLED to
overflowing with God’s children...that we would never waste an
opportunity to extend the grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and
kindness of Jesus Christ to others.
Take some time today to look
around you and see who needs to feel the grace and mercy of Jesus...and
where He needs you to be the vehicle to convey this. Turn to the
LORD...seek His wisdom...share His love with others. It is never too late!
©2014 Debbie Robus
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