Faithful Men

2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Warren Wiersbe tells how Charles Spurgeon preached to thousands in London each Lord's Day, yet he started his ministry by passing out tracts and teaching a Sunday school class as a teenager. When he began to give short addresses to the Sunday school, God blessed his ministry of the Word. He was invited to preach in obscure places in the country side, and he used every opportunity to honor the Lord. He was faithful in the small things, and God trusted him with the greater things. "I am perfectly sure," he said, "that, if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in obscure country places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men and women in large buildings all over the land. Remember our Lord's rule, "whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Now I know all of us can’t be a Charles Spurgeon, but God doesn’t expect us to.  He only tells us to lean on Him and He will do great things through us.  Each generation of preachers that have gone before impart to the next generation the truths of God’s Word – the passion for lost souls – the commitment to do a great work for God.  We have those who have within our lifetime passed from the scene:  Bob Jones, Sr., John R. Rice, Harold Sightler, Oliver B. Greene, J. Harold Smith, B.R. Lakin, Maize Jackson, E.F. Rabine, Monroe Parker, Percy Ray, Lester Roloff, Silas Fox, Buck Huntley, Billy Kelly, Bobby Grubbs, Robert Mullinax, and many more.  They have faithfully run their race, completed their tasks, and passed the torch on to the next generation to do the same. 

Saved at Early Age

We’ve heard it said of those who’ve lived a lifetime full of sin,

“Had he accepted Christ before, who knows what might have been.”

That thought alone should make us pause and ponder in our heart

And make us thankful, those of us surrendered from the start.

For some among us gave themselves to Christ when very young

And feel left out when others tell of deeds that they have done.

But there’s no need to feel a pang of envious regret,

For if we’ve trusted Him He has relieved us of our debt.

We must be grateful for the years we’ve given to the Lord

And praise His Name for saints of old who’ve gone to their reward,

Who led us in the way of truth and taught us of the right,

Who helped us keep our bodies pure and helped us win the fight.

For if we’ll look more closely at those people we admire

Who lived so long in sinfulness and played with Satan’s fire,

We’ll see that when one plays with fire, he always will get burned,

And though now saved, the scars are there from lessons he has learned.

Life’s lessons are so hard to bear — they take an awful toll.

They bend the mind, pervert the will, deface the very soul.

They leave such marks upon the life that naught can e’er erase.

The only hope left for mankind is God’s amazing grace.

And though God tells us that our sins He will remember not,

The scars are there upon our life — by us they’re not forgot.

So when we’re saved at early age, a lot of pain we miss;

We live a life of no regrets — of everlasting bliss.

© Paul Stultz 2006

Quote – “Every preacher ought to die with a thousand unfinished dreams.” – Dr. Harold Sightler

"Lord, Thank you for your faithfulness to each of us.  Help us to be faithful to you - to give you our hearts, our souls, and our lives to do your will in every way. Amen."