He was the preacher’s kid; I was the principal’s son. He got me in a lot of trouble growing up; he’d say it was the other way around. He was better at English and Speech; I was better at Math. We went on mission trips together, we played ball together, and we were constantly in one another’s home. When he was in the tenth grade, his dad took a job to preach in a church in Alabama. It seemed like the parting of David and Jonathon, but we both survived. I got to be in his wedding a few years later, and soon we both had families of our own.
Last week, my dad and I went to visit Gary. On December 8, he had a stroke. After thirty-eight days in the hospital, he is now recovering at his parents’ house. We talked about old times, we shared recent struggles, and we laughed a bit at our health conditions… though our parents didn’t. One of them commented, “Who would have thought you boys would be in the physical shape you’re in at your ages?”
Gary’s 44 years old; I’m 43. Who would have thought? But here lies a message we can proclaim. We’ve both had successes; we’ve both had failures. But what matters? What can we say to our children that holds true wisdom? “Run, play, study, learn, work, marry… but above all know the Lord! Without Him, it is all meaningless.” “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
Maybe Gary and I are to speak boldly to everyone we meet: “There’s only one thing that matters! Where will you be standing when the storm hits? Jesus is the only Rock. He is the only Refuge that is secure. Do you know Him? If you do, you’ll make it through any trial. If He’s not your everything, though you may think you’re on top of the world, you are in great danger. Why not go to Jesus and find what is most important?” Two old friends know.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26