January 15

Surely The Two Met in Heaven

The famed evangelist, Billy Graham preached his first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Church in Palatka, just south of Jacksonville, Florida in 1937.   Only the year before, in 1936, Ralph Eddins would be born in Billy Graham’s home state of North Carolina.  Both Northcarolinians, Graham and Eddins would have a passion to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and “be the kind of man my child wants to see”.  Graham, a generation before Eddins spent his entire life traveling the world, meeting the most famous, wealthy, prominent and distinctive people in the universe using his influence to spread God’s message of grace.

Graham was an 18-year-old college student “with knocking knees and four borrowed sermons” who preached at the Bostwick  Baptist Church to about 40 congregants on Easter Sunday weekend in April of 1937.

YOUNG BILLY GRAHAM WITH TWO OF HIS TEACHERS, JOHN MINDER LEFT AND CECIL UNDERWOOD EASTER SUNDAY 1937. AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH BOSTWICK PALATKA, FLORIDA.(BGA photo).

Ralph Eddins was not yet one year old but God had a plan for him just as he did for Graham.  Billy Graham would go on and preach to millions world-wide and often referred to his first opportunity to share the Gospel at Bostwick.  Eddins would go forward, end up in Florida, marry Helen, have three children and impact the lives of many far and wide in his own time and place.  He would end up in his son, David Eddin’s church at Bostwick just as Graham began there.

Ralph Eddins had his home-going service at Bostwick Baptist Church where his eldest son is now pastor. The Senior Eddins, for almost six decades would proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ telling in serious fashion about God’s grace, forgiveness, mercy and eternal promises.  His son, David also, following in his Father’s footsteps is now at Bostwick Baptist proclaiming that same hopeful message.  At his Father’s “celebration”, the young Eddins spoke of his Dad’s love of God’s Word and his determination to share it.  He spoke about his Dad’s gifts of carpentry and matter-of-fact attitude and how he woke up every day happy with “heaven on his mind”.  

Jason, David, Helen, Ralph, Joyce(Photo: Sharon Greenbarg)

David’s son, Nathan also spoke and having been called into the ministry himself, was influenced by his Grandad’s diligence in living out the Gospel of Jesus.  He too reminisced about his grandfather being a man of his word, being of strong opinion and never wavering.

From the Bostwick pulpit at his home-going, his daughter told how her Father was “dogmatic, outspoken and opinionated” while always faithful to his calling. Tommy Brown, long time friend and a pastor from North Carolina spoke as well and told of Eddins’ influence on his life.

Eddins was honored with a church full of those who came to celebrate his new life in heaven.  There was grieving but not for him. His youngest son, Jason wept for his loss but said he was confident of his excitement waking in heaven.  Eddins’ decades of service through the years would be continued by family and friends as eternity was on the mind of all who came to celebrate his life.  

As Pastor Tommy Brown put it, “Well done though good and faithful servant”.  At Billy Graham’s funeral, the same was said of him.  Surely the two met in heaven and indeed with Jesus.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

September 2

The Records of All People are Being Preserved- Yes, Even Yours and Mine

How do you think God will reward His people for the things done in His name and also one day, see the devil and his bunch cast into hell for their horrible works, if things are not being recorded?

Why can’t people see that?  When talking to even Christians sometimes, I hear them diss the fact that deeds are being recorded including those in the negative realm for “them”. They somehow believe that their deeds won’t be exposed? The fact is, we are all sinners.  ALL. Even the Christian is a sinner. It is ONLY by the grace of Jesus that the Christian can and will stand in the day of judgement. That does not though, take away from the fact that even the Christian’s sins must be known to show God’s fair and just rewards.(I don’t know how it will play out, but that is true).

Every single one of us, Christian or not, sin.  The Bible is clear, “We have all come short of the glory of God”.  

That… my friend is precisely why we ALL need a Savior.  What I hear so many times with the Christian though is, that because he or she has the Savior, his or her deeds are forgiven thus somehow not recorded and kept.  NO. ALL things are recorded whether you have trusted Christ or not. The difference is that God will show His love and reward to those who took His Savior as the payment for that sin.

Yes, when we trust Jesus Christ as Savior, our sins are forgiven but NO, that does not mean we will not see a “play back” of our sins one day.  YES, they have been forgiven as far as the “east is to the west” but… here is the kicker…. Lk 8:17: For nothing is secret, that shall not be revealed; neither anything hidden, that shall not be known and come light.

It is the just God who will be able to sort out the whole display of events one day. He will be judge and jury.  He will be right and fair. He will expose all so that everyone is aware of why people find themselves in heaven or hell.  

Here are other scriptures about exposing ALL and that means, my sins and yours one day. ALL-

Numbers 32:23 says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (KJV).

Heb 4:13: And there is no creature hidden from His sight: but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

Psalms 33:13: The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.

Lk 8:17: For nothing is secret, that shall not be revealed; neither anything hidden, that shall not be known and come light.

Rom 2:6: Who will render to every man according to his works.

Rev 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1 Cor 4:5: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Our only hope to be in heaven is to trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and King but by that, do not think that your sins will be hidden.  ALL will one day be exposed so God’s righteousness can shine through. It will be through Christ that ALL are saved from those sins. Praise God.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Faith | LEAVE A COMMENT