DYING PASTOR'S LETTER TO EDITOR

Dying Pastor’s Letter to Editor  

Don’t forget to pray.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  

Dying Pastor's Letter to Editor   

Teresa Neumann (Oct 9, 2012) 

"I've known that life is brief, death is certain, and an appearance before the Judge of all the Earth is coming. Yet, my life is more of a "disappearing vapor" than I imagined. Indeed, the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big." -Pastor Robert C. Jennings

(Sedalia, MO)—On September 30, the Sedalia Democrat published the following letter to the editor by Robert C. Jennings, a pastor who is dying of pancreatic cancer. Our prayers go out to Pastor Jennings and his family, and also to the folks who read his poignant farewell. May they come to know the all-consuming love of Christ as a result.

Dear Editor:

Terri and I moved to Sedalia with one child in 1983 to pastor a new church which has met at Highway M Chapel since 1987. Alas, pancreatic cancer showed up two years ago. Apart from divine intervention, I'm near the end of the road. Permit a farewell to my dear community.

In the almost 30 years we have raised our five children, lived our lives, gone in and out of the businesses, talked on the sidewalks, preached indoors and out, and I've written maybe 300 letters to the editor. This appears to be the last. The songwriter says, "Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away."

Especially being a Christian, I've known that life is brief, death is certain, and an appearance before the Judge of all the Earth is coming. Yet, my life is more of a "disappearing vapor" than I imagined. Indeed, the one great thing in life is to be ready to die. It is simple, but big.

Yes, I'd like to stay on with my family, with my church, and with the souls of men to try to serve. But God's will is sovereign. And, I am ready to die, in that I was saved from my sins by the grace of Christ 41 years ago. Heaven is OK!

This world is passing away, ruined by sin. There is no fix to all the misery. A new president cannot fix the land. Hospitals remain, law courts remain, the jail house remains, the military remains, and tears will continue to fall.

My closing exhortation to fellow-Sedalians is that Christ is the only hope. Make sure you have Him. That's all one can have, ultimately. All else is stripped away. He will fix you; He will fix it all. He conquered the grave. I go down with a glad shout, "O grave, where is your victory?" When the Lord Jesus returns I will rise again with all the Christians to a new heavens and new Earth. There is a Heaven to gain; there is a Hell to shun.

Farewell to all. It has been a well-spent journey here in Sedalia. Robert C. Jennings [Source: Sedalia Democrat http://www.ordinarypastor.com/?p=10882]

Note: What a wonderful letter to write and to share with others as death approaches. A short letter but one that contains many wonderful truths. Robert Jennings is facing a universal event that all of humanity will have to face at one time or another, death. How you face it, is yet to be determined. That’s the purpose of my comments today. I think it would be wise for us, for all of us, to write a letter that we would like to have read by others before we die. The purpose of writing this letter now is for your benefit, not to share with your loved ones at this time. Many letters or request are made known about a person after they die but I wonder if the content of the letter would be different if we knew our letter would be read by others especially if we found ourselves in a similar situation as Robert Jennings, facing the end of life.

An interesting thought and quite possibly a thought without much merit but interesting nonetheless. So here’s the deal, grab a piece of paper, pick up a pencil or pen and write your letter. Make it short. Robert Jennings’ letter was about two thirds of the page in length. Obviously he covered the things that were of importance to him, especially those things that brought him comfort as he faced death.

Would your letter end with an exhortation to your family and friends about Christ being their only hope? Would you be able to write truthfully that you were ready to die because you have been saved from your sins by the grace of Christ? Can you join him in making the glad shout, "O grave, where is your victory?" because you know beyond a shadow-of-doubt you will be victorious over death and the grave? Would you be able to state emphatically that you are a resident of the new Heavens and the new Earth? More importantly does your life reflect your faith in Christ Jesus? Do you believe in your heart of hearts, because of your faith in Christ, there is a Heaven to gain and hell to shun?

When you ask these probing questions you give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to reveal to your true beliefs and the Holy Spirit will always bring you face-to-face with Christ. That face-to-face encounter raises the important question: Are you counting on Jesus Christ and His finished work to save you or are you counting on self and your good works? 

Your answer will reflect your faith position. If you are not at peace with your answers and feel you need spiritual guidance I recommend you go to the source of peace, Jesus, through His Word. If you don’t have a good study Bible go to a Christian book store and purchase one. Then look up the subjects of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit to give you incite and understanding. Read slowly and carefully and see what the Bible declares as being necessary for you to be saved, redeemed, and forgiven. If you do this following the leading of the Holy Spirit, you will discover that there is only one Savior of the world and only one Way to be saved. Then, without debate, I’m going to encourage you to do what the Bible says you are to do. Confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Rom 10: 9).

If, in faith, you did what the Bible told to do, you have done what all believers have done at one time or another and like them you are saved for eternity and now have a personal relationship with God. Having the assurance of your salvation will very obviously change the tenor of your letter. You will be able to write as one who has no fear of death and great assurance as to where you will spend eternity. You will also be able to write forcefully about your desire for your family, friends and loved ones to be saved. Who knows your letter might be published in a local newspaper and read by someone just like me who then uses it in a devotional to bless the lives of others.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Can I get a witness?