A Trailblazer Has Gone Home!
A
Big Daddy was more than a
grandfather to me. He was more than the
de facto leader and patriarch of our family.
He was all of that and more.
But
to me, he was also the spiritual mentor of my ministry. He was my father in the Gospel!
I was privileged as a
teenager to begin my ministry under his guidance, and as his assistant. As many of you know, I later co-pastored with him. That experience was formative and
wonderful. I know that many of you also
rejoice in your memories of my grandfather.
A Trailblazer
As I have contemplated his
spiritual impact on the kingdom, I cannot help but think of the statement that
Apostle Paul made, “Yea, so have I eagerly striven to preach the gospel, not
where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:” Paul was a man who took the gospel to new
places! My Big Daddy was like that. He was like the early pioneers who
crisscrossed the North American continent blazing trails across the land. He was a trailblazer, preaching Christ, where
not yet named!
I am thankful that I had
two separate opportunities to share these ideas and appreciations to him (and
to Big Mom) – once in my living room in
Big Dad was a trailblazer
bringing the Jesus Name Pentecostal Truth of the Bible to new places. Places like
A Trailblazer’s Achievements
Trailblazers go where
others can’t or haven’t gone before.
Their achievements are often not as complete or as “tall” as those
persons who are then able to come behind them.
However, those achievements seem so much more monumental than others by
the sheer hard work and determination that is required by a trailblazer!
I, like some other of you
here, longed to follow the long stride of this trailblazer! Like the story, he used to tell of trying to
walk in the steps of his father (not for good), I have had to really stretch my
legs (being only 5’ 8” – he being a bit over 6’) to try to match him. Where my life-ministry has taken me, has in
some part been fueled by my desire to match the stride of the trailblazer. We are trying to stand on the shoulders of
great men, and of a great man!
Following the Trail
But while I have struggled
to keep up and failed, I have also come to realize that I don’t have to truly
match him stride for stride. Because you
see, he was blazing the trail – so it could be easier for you and for me. He blazed the trail. Now there is a trail. We just have to follow it!
Picture me the young
teenager – wanting to please the Lord and his grandfather, calling out to the
tall figure way out in the distance – “Wait Big Daddy, I’m coming! Wait for me, I’m coming, too!” Now picture me later in life, I’m still
calling out, “wait for me, I’m following you!”
From time to time, I have seen his profile (lit by the setting sun of
time) turning and beckoning me, “Come on son, can you see the trail? Come on!
Follow me!”
The Desire to Go Home
Like the pioneers of
yesteryear, trailblazers (who are wanderers by nature) get a strange a
different feeling toward the ending of their lives. Rather than following the wander-urge, the
trailblazer, finally and at last comes to the time when he gets the uncanny
urge to “go home.” Like the salmon of
Home for this trailblazer
was not Noble Louisiana. It was a place
that he (and she) sang about.
Heaven,
it’s a Home Eternal.
Heaven, it’s joy supernal.
I’m so glad that it’s real,
and I feel
like traveling on. Heaven!
Now it is time for me to
make the announcement that we have all dreaded for our own selfish
reasons.
“The Trailblazer Has Gone Home!”
Now, the rain is on the
river,
but better yet,
the Sun is on the Hill!
And Heaven has just been
made Sweeter!
Death, A Doorway
Death, no longer a bully,
has simply become the doorway to a better world!
Death is not something to
fear. It is no longer a bully. The Bully Has Been Beaten. Death is not a Monster of Terror, but a
Medium of Transport. It is not a Fiend,
but a Courier, a Conveyer, and Emissary.
Death is like the Bellhop
of a Swanky Hotel. He says, “Let me take
your baggage. You won’t need that here.”
(This hotel will be different because your baggage won’t be needed.) This bellhop will deliver you to the threshold
of your suite, but he cannot actually come in.
Thank him for bringing you to the door, bid him goodbye, and step inside!
Look in the suite of
rooms, there are many wonderful people there.
They are awaiting our arrival.
Big
Daddy has been delivered safely into the arms of our Savior. And
Heaven Has Just Been Made Sweeter!
I am Standing on the
Shoulders of Great Men & Women of God.
A David makes a way for a Solomon. An Elijah makes an Elisha possible.
Moses enables Joshua!
Heaven Has Just Been Made Sweeter
Like the sweetness added
to a bread mix, a person’s life is enriched by great people of influence in
his/her life.
The Trailblazer Has Gone Home!
Sing
the Wondrous Love of Jesus,
Sing
His Mercy and His Grace,
In
those Mansions, Bright and Blessed,
He’ll
prepare for us a place.
When
we all get to Heaven,
What
a day of Rejoicing there will be.
When
we all see Jesus,
We
will sing and shout the Victory!
The Trailblazer has sung
the song for the final time.
When
I’ve gone the last mile of the way,
I will rest at the close of the day.
And I know there are joys that await me,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way!
Yes, for us the rain is on the river. But for him, the sun is on the hill. He has
discarded the useless shell to take on that new and glorious body, to enjoy the
Joys of the Lord.
“Well done, thou good and
faithful servant.
Enter into the Joy of thy
Lord!”
Will We Follow?
Heaven has just been made
Sweeter!
The Trailblazer Has Gone
Home!
Many are the wonders of
Heaven. And now, you and I are yearning for Heaven. Not only because it is better than Hell. Not only because of streets of gold and gates
of pearl! Not only because the best part
of Heaven, Jesus – face to face, in all of his glory, awaits,
but also because He has gone there to await our arrival.
Heaven has just been made
Sweeter!
We are calling out to the
figure, far ahead of us on the trail to glory.
He has once again blazed another trail.
It leads to a wonderful place.
And now I find myself, once again calling out. “Big Daddy, wait for me. I am coming too. I am following you!” I can almost see his
shadow turning around. His arm
extends. He beckons. “Come on son.
I’ve blazed the trail. Can you
see the road? Come on home.”
I cry, today, not
sorrowing as others who have no hope.
But, I cry as one who says, “I am coming too. I will follow!”
The Trailblazer Has Gone Home!
