My friend Nicky’s grandpa, Pops, came over from Italy after WWII. An
immigrant, he left a wife behind, promising her he would call for her once he
got established and could afford to. He carried her picture in his wallet for
the 20 years as she waited patiently for him to call, telling the woman he dated
along the way that it was a picture of his sister. Finally he did call for her,
and she arrived in the states, much older, but still trusting in her husband,
now of over 20 years. A story that he would relate in English, she spoka only
the Italian, and it would get a good laugh. I don’t know if she ever found out,
but she stayed loyal to him the whole time. Just the story of how Pops came to
the states....
When I last saw him, he was supposed to be retired. He was a crossing
guard at a busy intersection, and had the record of most accidents of any
corner. He was known for just walking out into traffic, and waving his red STOP
sign, hoping the cars would stop. He never got hit, but who knows how many near
or real accidents he caused. Under pressure the finally had to release him, and
he wouldn’t let them. He kept showing up for work, and when they would approach
would start swinging his sign at them, cursing them in Italian. It was a sight
to see, and after many attempts, he finally quit showing up. But he would not
relenquish his stop sign, it was his, and the last time I saw him, he was
demonstrating to us young guys how he held off the police who were “trying to
steal his sign, and put him out of work. How was he going to feed his family?”
he would say with great emotion, as his wife sat calmly. Quite a character,
Nicky was actually second generation in the states, and we loved to hear the
stories of Pop.
Nicky’s brother Anthony, or Anth as he was called, had just bought a new
Firebird, and parked it blocking Pop’s driveway. It was Thanksgiving, a big
event, and the three generations of family were gathered around the table, and I
was invited to eat with them. The excitement about Anth’s Trans Am was the talk
before dinner, and at and after dinner too as it would turn out. Pop was known
for wandering away, and had before dinner, to get a jug of his home made vino.
When we all heard the crash. He had backed out of his garage, and into Anth’s
new car! And was furious. In words only an Italian could understand, he was
mad at Anth because he had parked where he shouldn’t have, and had caused
irrepairable damage, a slightly dented bumper on his old Pontiac. Meanwhile the
new Trans Am was missing the right front fender, hit so hard it was torn off the
car. And as Anthony complained to his grandpa, Pops chewed him out. “Whatsa
matter fo you?” And all through the dinner, kept complaining about how Anthony
had ruined his car, and through two jugs of homemade vino it continued. Finally
when Anth apologized, the matter was settled, and all was well, except for the
damage to the cars. But the story went on for years until Pops died, how Anth
had wrecked his car on Thanksgiving. At least he hadn’t brought out his stop
sign.
Someday all of us will assume the title of patriarch, when our fathers and
grandfathers pass away. It will be up to us to carry on any legacy, or to start
one. When the first century church was new, it was under constant pressure, and
we can see the church today under pressures. Not the same or as deadly, but as
persecution grows, we need to turn to Christ even more. The first church grew
as it expanded past its borders, many times having to move because of being
persecuted, as all the disciples would be martyred. But a false sense was
involved in the growth, one that said that they had to grow the church, so that
it would not perish or cease to exist. A common thread that still exists today,
as we have boards, rallies, new membership Sundays, and other ways we try to get
people to join the church. But the same scripture is still the same scripture
today after 2000 years, unless God builds the church, they labor in vain. While
2000 years ago well meaning men felt they had to grow the body of Christ, the
church, it was God who provided all the growth. It was God who called them via
his spirit to Jesus, and on that rock, Jesus Christ, he established his church.
And from then until today many men have tried to improve upon that, and we end
up with division through religion. Just the opposite of what Jesus had in mind,
but what free willed men wrought. They forgot then, as we do today, that he who
began a good work in uswill be faithful to complete it. We try self help books,
12 ways to pray better, conferences on what Christian men should do and how to
live, we try to better ourselves. And when we don’t we get bitter and
disappointed. As we should, for it is the job of the one who created us to see
us through. Life is a walk that we cannot do without Jesus guiding it, and in
our daily personal striving to keep Christianity alive, we soon fail as a group,
as a church. We begin to blame others, much as Pops blamed Anth for his backing
into his new car, not accepting responsibility. Families walk away from the
church, confusing it for God, and where a slight lapse in life was forgivable,
it was seen as dangerous to the church. Meetings are held, prayers are offered,
and ultimatums are given, all but forgiveness and restoration, the ones Jesus
offered, and we need. I have heard church boards tell men who have strayed they
can “come back into fellowship when they get right with God,” not the Jesus I
signed up for. Why is it Christians only kill off their sick or wounded?
While some believe it is their faith that keeps them going, and grows the
church, it is really the spirit of the Lord. My faith wavers based on the
situation, Jesus never changes. He knows of what we did, and will do, and has a
plan outlined. When we consult him, we become a part of it, and grow in
Christ. But we also are part of it when we fail, and we all will. We cannot
make it alone or cut off from fellowship, no matter what church doctrine tells
us. We are to minister and provide aid to the hurting and sick, and sin is a
sickness. They may be told that they can lose their salvation, not be welcomed
at church, and need to start all over again with Jesus. That it all depends on
us, leaving Jesus out of the equation. And bragging about what a great
fellowship they have, and the integrity of their flock. Personally I am so glad
I have Jesus to fall back on, that he will provide the growth, and it is only
him who can keep me from hell. If he can save me from hell, why can’t he change
my life here on earth? Or are we busy trying to complete the work God created
in us all by ourselves?
He will be faithful to complete it, whereupon heaven calls us home. All we
leave is a legacy, nothing else. Without Jesus and our testimony of him in our
lives, what will you be remembered for? I remember Pops and the stories about
him, but forget about his wife’s faithfulness to him all those years. Forgiving
and waiting patiently for her bride to call her to America, her new home. Times
were tough, but she persevered. And what a reunion it must have been. God is
preparing such a reunion right now for us, when Jesus, the bridegroom calls us
his bride, the church home. He will be faithful to complete the work he
started, will you be faithful to let him? We will stumble and trip up along the
way, only Jesus will keep us from falling. Something to remember when the guy
next to you in church fails, we all have one thing in common-sin. But we can
have one more thing in common also, Jesus. Love will change the sinner to a
saint, the effective prayer of a righteous man availith much. God was there at
the beginning, and will be in the end. Where you end up is up to you. Let the
spirit complete the work he started in you, who else but the creator knows what
his creation needs. Salvation is of the Lord, something no religion, program,
process, or procedure can imitate. Some throw seeds, some water, and some
fertilize, but it will always be God who provides the growth. Or, you can do it
yourself and fail.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com