 |
 |
Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Reunion!
Thomas Wolfe was wrong—you can go home again! When people with “like precious faith” come together after years of absence, the preciousness of that faith is capable of refreshing the good memories of days long past. Hair has grown thinner, perhaps a bit more gray, and our appearance changed by the passing of years, but the reunion of faithful Christians has its own beauty, and makes us see the wonder that rests in our “hope of eternal life,” Titus 1:2.
Some have the hope of heaven because of the efforts of those met in reunion. Others owe a debt of gratitude for encouragement during trying times. The comradeship of taking the gospel to others creates a bond that cannot be destroyed by time or age.
Seeing again those who taught our children the Bible in their younger days gives us the opportunity to express our appreciation once more. Looking at pictures of days fondly remembered helps us realize the blessings that accompany being a Christian, and remind us of the opportunity to give others the same hopes and memories.
Did we really have Bible class in someone’s car in the parking lot? Did some of us have to arrive early to start a fire so all could be more comfortable in our time of worship? Such efforts may have been a trial sixty years ago, but now they remind us that being together, worshipping God together and giving strength to each other made it all worth while.
Who would have thought that the day would come when we would be looking back with tears in our eyes as we recall a beloved teacher or elder. How could we have anticipated the church in Dripping Springs having a “web-site” to which hundreds from all over the world could be taught the Bible? Who would have believed that some of those boys who ran all over the church yard pulling the girls’ hair would some day be proclaiming God’s truth in places hundreds, yea even thousands of miles away?
A time of reunion has the power to make us think of the influence one person in one small congregation can have on a community and our world. It can also make us aware of the mistakes we made, the efforts we did not make, and the people we did not teach. A reunion can have many positive effects. Think of the following as we look back over sixty years of history:
- How many regrets do we experience as we think of days and years wasted on things we now realize were of such little importance?
- Have we now learned that a person’s shape, age or lack of certain skills do not necessarily diminish their value and their influence on our life?
- Can we look back to a simpler time—a time when our lives were less focused on wealth and “things”— and learn to put them in their proper place on our list of priorities?
- Will the memories of these days together motivate us to say “thank you” to those who have given us encouragement and hope to persevere in our modern materialistic world?
- Can we begin to see that the power to save souls is not in machines, men, money, media or magnificent buildings, but in the gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16?
- Young people, will you look at the things our forebears accomplished for us, and can you prepare your hearts and minds to do even more with your time and talent?
- For those of us who are older, will we as parents, grand-parents and friends determine to teach our youth to be strong in their faith, biblically sound in their teaching, and prepare themselves to be good leaders and good followers?
- As we think of those who have passed from this life, will we be honest with ourselves in examining our talents and opportunities, promising God and ourselves that we will use them to their fullest in God’s Kingdom?
When we depart from this “homecoming” we can look forward to another time of reunion—one with Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Jeremiah, Paul, John and Jesus. Just as David sought a day when he would be reunited with his son, 2 Samuel 12:23, we can be with our faithful loved ones who have gone before. Truly, “What a day of rejoicing that will be.” Today’s troubles and fears will be overshadowed by the bliss of reigning with Christ forever. What a great day is coming when we shall see Jesus “as He is,” 1 John 3:2. Now is your time to prepare for that day.
|
|
|
|
“Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”
“Memory is the diary we all carry with us.”
“We ought not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past mistakes.”
“Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them…Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
