In the last 4 days two giants of men, each of whom made a big impact on my life, have passed away.
I only knew one of them personally but both were Christians and would have taken great comfort from the verses we studied tonight:
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim 4:6-8)
A Gentle Giant
Lionel was a true ‘gentle giant’ of a man. I’m 6′ tall but he has always towered over me. As a teenager, Lionel took the time to meet with me every week at my parents’ house to read the Bible with me. We’d spend time going through my reading notes for that day and talking about how to apply what we’d read. We’d pray together and he’d head home. It was the most simple, quiet yet wonderfully personal discipleship I’ve known and I’ve always treasured those times. Lionel’s race came to an end on Monday.
A Theological Giant
I never actually met R.C. Sproul. In some ways I wish I had, if only to hear him preach in person. We holidayed just over 5 years ago in south Orlando but sadly the opportunity to visit his church passed came and went. However, I hear his voice every day, and have done for almost a decade. My daily commute has been a feast of ‘Renewing Your Mind‘ podcasts and I know I’ve been listening for a long time because many of them are repeated but that doesn’t matter… they’re food for my soul, and when you get as much out of them as I do, you don’t mind eating the same meal again and again. As I got home tonight, I heard that R.C’s race ended earlier this evening.
These Giants Wear Crowns
In their own ways, both these men changed my life. Both have instilled in me a deep trust in God’s word. Both have given me a model to follow. Both have led lives that encourage me to keep the faith.
Last week at our Leadership Group we read:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 3:14-15)
Those words now ring with an even deeper personal poignancy: I will continue in what I have learned because I know from whom I learned it.
Wear your crowns well, gentlemen. I hope to see you again one day, and I hope to be wearing my own.