I
wrote an article entitled “I believe my family will be saved” out of a desire
to see my parents and siblings follow Jesus. (Pentecostal Evangel, May 8, 1983)
Raised in a home that did not attend church, I made a decision for Christ at
sixteen. In the Air Force during the Vietnam War came a call into fulltime
ministry. I attended college close to where I grew up. The family was seeing my
personal transformation yet showed no interest in placing faith in God.
While
waiting their decision for salvation, I learned you cannot personally save
them, be authentic about Jesus at all times, someone else may lead them to God,
and never give up praying for them. I longed for each family member to
experience the joy, peace and love associated with knowing the Lord.
In
January, 1986 the phone rang early one morning. A nurse explained my father had
an acute heart attack in the middle of the night while traveling home from visiting
my sister in San Diego. One of my heroes died leaving us with no assurance of
his eternal destiny. My wife and I returned to Seattle to officiate his
funeral.
In
November, 1993, the day before Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law explained my
brother was being rushed to the hospital in a coma. People in their forties are
too young to die. My brother, my roommate for the first sixteen years of my life,
died leaving us with no assurance of his eternal destiny. He requested no memorial
service.
In
December, 1998 the phone rang at my office late one afternoon. My mother had an
acute heart attack at her home while reading in a favorite chair. A great mom died
leaving us with no assurance of her eternal destiny. We flew back to Seattle to
officiate her memorial service.
In
October, 2008, my brother-in-law informed me my sister past away after a
prolonged battle with cancer. A wonderful, caring and kind woman left this life
leaving us with no assurance of her eternal destiny. My wife and I flew to her
home to officiate her memorial service.
As
the last surviving member of the family, would I be the only one in heaven? My
father, mother, sister and brother may have made a last minute decision but
there was no assurance. Regularly attending church was not practiced and lifestyles
gave little evidence of behavior influenced by the Holy Spirit.
I
hope for the best but live with the worst.
Prayers
for the family have regularly continued through the years, including brother-in-law,
sister-in-laws, nephews, nieces, and cousins. I am thankful my own children
made a decision to follow Jesus. Seeing them and their families finding purpose
and fulfillment actively involved in the cause of Christ is exciting. They love
God and we have assurance of spending eternity together.
My
brother raised two biological and two adopted children. I knew very little
about them before he died and even less afterwards. I heard his biological
children had joined the military but knew nothing about the adopted children. I
regularly prayed for each one by name and asked for someone to reveal Jesus to
them. I hoped their heart would be receptive to the Holy Spirit and each would
make a personal decision for Christ.
My
wife and I made plans to attend a national convention in Denver. When I told my
sister, she mentioned receiving a Christmas card with a Denver postmark coming from
our brother’s daughter Mercedes. She wrote of being married and having a little
girl. I had not seen or heard from her in approximately seventeen years. We
made contact and decided to meet.
She
and her family joined us at a restaurant. She looked and acted like a family
member but behaved differently. She encouraged prayer over the meal, something
my family would not have considered. She made mention of church. Could my niece
be a follower of Jesus? She was interested in stories about her father and
learning more about his childhood and teenage years. At the end of dinner she
asked us to come to her house before leaving town. In her home it became apparent
she had faith in God.
Mercedes
told her story. She always believed in God but did not understand what it meant
to follow Jesus. She had been a Marine, serving as an Embassy guard. After discharge
she attended college, having definite career plans. She was independent, carefree
and liked to party. She wanted a highly successful career and lots of money,
regularly working two or three jobs. The future looked promising but she confessed
having no peace of mind.
She
met someone, fell in love and made plans to marry. A Christian home became
important to her and they started visiting churches. A guest evangelist spoke
in a church they were attending and she came forward to receive Christ. She was
28 years old and has followed Jesus ever since. Many things changed in her life.
Her behavior became Biblically based. She now has peace and goals have changed
from wanting lots of money to helping people experience eternal life. Besides
being an active church member, she helped the homeless through the Denver Rescue
Mission, preparing sack lunches for people on the streets. She also assisted making
breakfast at her church for the down-and-out.
I
am no longer the only member of the extended family following Jesus. Previously
I wrote, “While I agonize over their fate, I also have a deep-seated peace because
God does all things well. I have committed them to God with a clear conscience,
and continually pray on their behalf. By His grace, someday I will see my family
join me in His kingdom.” The Lord answers prayer, sometimes in unexpected ways!
Never
let time or circumstances discourage you. God is working, whether or not you
witness what is happening. Something powerful takes place every time you pray.
