Susan, John, and I met Susan’s brother Steve in Washington, D.C. during spring break last week. On the drive to our capitol, we spent Saturday night in Mt. Airy, North Carolina the hometown of Andy Griffith and the model for Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show. Outside the replica courthouse were engraved stones of the much-loved characters: Barney, Opie, Aunt Bea, Gomer, Goober, Helen, Thelma Lou, Helen, Floyd, and Otis, the town drunk.
In 1986, eighteen years after the show ended, the two-hour special ‘Return to Mayberry’ aired with fifteen members of the original cast. In this story, Otis Campbell was no longer a drunk. He had been sober for many years and was Mayberry’s ice cream man, a fine citizen. I like to think that Otis had an encounter with Jesus who delivered him from his addiction and gave him daily grace to say ‘no’ to temptation and live a godly life.
Of course the stories from Mayberry are fictional, but how many addicts, thieves, murderers, and other sinners have been changed by the power of God? Is not the invitation of Jesus all about coming to Him for Living Water and becoming a new creation? Our part is to believe His message, trust Him completely, and obey what He tells us to do. When we realize our sin helped nail the Savior to the cross and that He died because He loves us, we should bow in thanksgiving and surrender our lives to Him.
Sunday morning we went to the only early church service we could find in Mt Airy. One of the men who led worship was a little overweight and built a bit like Otis. He did not have the greatest singing voice and he played no musical instrument, but when he prayed at the close of singing, I wished I knew his story. With tears streaming down his face and with deep emotion, he prayed something like this:
“Dear God, We come to You this morning and just thank You for who You are and for what You’ve done for each one of us. Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for us and saving us from our sin. Lord, we love You and we want to live for You. But we can’t do this by ourselves so we simply tell You this morning that we need You – every hour we need You. Thanks for the promise that You are with us. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
I cried too.
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” I Timothy 1:15-17