On Saturday, we heard the shocking news that my Grandpa had passed away. He was found sitting in his chair, in his home in Arizona.
It breaks my heart to say goodbye but I’m so thankful he is now in the presence of His Savour. I wish it wasn’t so soon, but I’m so glad you have found your way home and have been welcomed into the arms of our heavenly father.
My grandpa was the kind of guy who left love and light everywhere he went. The world was a better place because he was in it.
If you didn’t know him, let me tell you a little bit about the kind of man he was. My grandpa was in his in his 80s but he was the most active 80 year old you’d ever meet. He spent his life leading other people to Christ and sharing the gospel with others. He spent 6 months a year in Romania preaching sometimes 5 times a day. And when he was at home in Arizona he preached and lead Bible Studies and wrote books. He traveled all over the world bring the light of life to people. His love for the Lord, for missions, for people, for the Word inspires and challenges me.
Last Sunday he posted a LONG Facebook post. At the time I thought, “oh grandpa… no one reads these, they’re too long… no one’s got time for that.” But reading over his final words all I can think is I wish this post when on even longer. He wrote, “I will pray for you, I hope you’ll pray for me: Father we admit that we don’t really see all this. The eyes of our hearts are open just a tiny bit. Our faith is at low ebb. The examples we see around us in our churches fall way short of all this. Help us to see. In this New Year, open our spiritual eyes to grasp and see clearly things we haven’t seen before, to grasp with a firm grip a new level of faith, to be filled to overflowing with your joy and your love and your presence. To know you as we never have before. ‘Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you.’ In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.”
His prayer was truly answered. Oh how he longed to know Jesus and to see him and now he is standing before his heavenly father and he is hearing God say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
My grandpa truly was a one of the most influential, impactful hero’s of my life. There are not enough words for me to ever say how thankful I am to have had him in my life.
As I sit here broken that he is gone, I am reminded of Kari Jobe’s “The Cause of Christ.”
My grandpa lived for this cause. He built his church and made HIS name known far and wide. From the US, to Canada, to Romania, to Taiwan and everyone in between he bravely spoke for the cause of Christ. He surrendered all. He left it all behind, for his joy was truly the cause of Christ. He truly did live his life to do more to build Christ’s name more than him.
I pray that I will be able to live a life as dedicated to the cause of Christ.
xoxo Tori