Never Give Up!

Although I was only three years old when my grandpa went to heaven, I still remember sitting on his lap with several other grandchildren in a huge, wooden rocking chair. Grandpa told us stories, performed magic string tricks, sang, and played his Jew’s harp or violin. (He could also play a saw.) He tried to make room for everyone, as we all wanted to be on his lap. His bass laughter amidst our high giggles told us he loved these times as well. A simple, honest man, Grandpa had a reputation as one of the best mechanics around. He was also a man of God who attended church regularly with his children, a fact which seemed to annoy my grandmother. Although she was a moral, hard-working woman, Grandma did not have much good to say about Grandpa’s faith.

At the time of his death, only two of Grandpa’s five children were serving God – one of my uncles and my mother, who had just recently made that commitment. The rest of his children, though wonderful aunts and uncles, were somewhat rowdy characters, not committed to God.

Shortly after Grandpa passed away, my aunt, a single parent, began a relationship with Christ and started Bible school. She eventually became a missionary. Several years later, when I was in high school, my last two uncles gave their hearts to Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately they gave up their cigarettes and alcohol. What impacted me most, though, was the way they couldn’t stop talking about the Lord. Not merely a historical account, the Scriptures became an interactive guide to life. Bible heroes were real people to be emulated.

One day during this time period my family visited my uncles’ church, the same church Grandpa used to attend. We heard the following testimony from an older saint named Pansy Gillis.

It seems that Grandpa used to stand up during “testimony time” and thank the Lord because he knew one day his whole family would be saved. Pansy now rejoiced in the fact that, although Grandpa didn’t live to see that day, each of his children had indeed been saved.

Besides my missionary aunt, two uncles became pastors. Another uncle served on his church’s board and wrote hymns. My mother became a choir director, organist, and much-loved Sunday school teacher. Even Grandma became a Christian – in my uncle’s church! Like the incredible examples of people of faith we read about in Hebrews 11, Grandpa did not “receive the things promised; [he] only saw them from a distance.” He did not experience the blessing of worshiping with all his children here on earth, but you can bet in heaven there will be no stopping them.

As you read our feature section on prodigals (pages 4-7), keep believing for your prodigals. Love them. Set boundaries when necessary. Pray like crazy. And never, never give up!.

Andrea Johnson,
Managing Editor
Message of the Open Bible
Message@openbible.org