Director of Missions
Bethel Baptist Association
J.M.’s eldest son asked, “Dad, why don’t you give your heart and life to Christ?” J.M. answered, “Son, you don’t know what all I have done.”
J.M. had an intriguing past. As a 5-year-old, he, along with his eight siblings, felt the impact of the Great Depression. Six years later, he witnessed his dad’s suicide. At 18, he left for World War II.
While serving in North Africa and Italy, J.M. had a machine gun and a grenade wound. He was left for dead in a foxhole, was taken prisoner, eventually escaped and was missing in action for a short time. His mom received word that he was dead — killed in action. She responded, “No, he is not because I am praying for him.” Yes, J.M. had a praying mother. Her last plea before her death was that all her children be saved.
Somewhere in J.M.’s past, he learned his sins were so bad that he could not be saved. He attended church on Christmas and Easter and for funerals without any persuasion but had to be begged on other occasions. He wanted his children to be Christians, but he knew there was no hope for him. He always made sure that someone offered the blessing before a meal. He acknowledged that God was in control but could not accept the fact that God could forgive him.
J.M.’s eldest son could not bear the thought of eternal separation from his dad. He would say, “Dad, if you ask God to forgive you, Psalm 103:12 says, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.’”
J.M. was confident that his sin was too great. He understood Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” but did not understand Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto Him (Jesus) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” The Holy Spirit was working in J.M.
Finally he could not resist the prayers and pleas of those who loved him. At 58, J.M. asked Jesus to forgive him. Dying two years later, he had lived an abundant life as promised in John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
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