Honorable Heritage – Joshua 24:15

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Just eight months after my father’s death at 89, my mother followed him into glory.  She had no will to live without her beloved husband of 65 years.  They sealed their hearts to each other and to the Lord whom they served faithfully throughout their lives.  They were imperfect, as with all people, certainly imperfect, just as I am certainly imperfect, but they had committed early in their marriage to obey God and to walk in integrity and faithfulness, considering not the cost, and they enjoyed a devotion to each other and God that carried them through every trial.

My parents sacrificed much for their beliefs.  My dad was a building contractor in an environment where a willingness to pad costs and pass on a share to those who awarded lucrative contracts would bring abundant work.  With five young children, my parents must have acutely felt the temptation to cheat, just as they felt the heartbreak of losing opportunity after opportunity when they refused to do so, but my parents had decided to take the straight and narrow road leading to eternal life.[1]  Newly married, they had heard a sermon that touched their hearts indelibly, and they resolved that forfeiting their integrity was not an option.[2]  The sermon’s theme, what does it profit those who gain the whole world should they lose their eternal souls,[3] set the course of their lives.  My parents struggled to get by on little for many years while financial success evaded them, yet in the end, they left what many would consider a small fortune to their heirs.  More valuable, they left us, their progeny, what no amount of money can buy; they left us integrity and faithfulness.

I do not think any of their children have the capacity to cheat or steal, to be unfaithful, or to deceive others, willfully or blatantly.  Undeniably, we have our unattractive moments, and I, for one, would not want my worst behavior videoed and shown before the world, but I cannot, nor do I desire to, escape my honorable heritage.

Just before my mom’s death, my sister envisioned my dad telling her, “Come on, Grace; it’s beautiful here.”  We, whose parents blessed us with a passion for the beauty and desirability of walking in integrity, praise God for His graciousness to us, and each of us who love the Lord should strive with resolute and diligent hearts to provide the same godly heritage to our children.[4]

Warren’s Love Letter to Grace

                        Welcome home, my precious bride                 

 I’ve longed to have you by my side

To look into your lovely face

To pamper you, my darling Grace

I knew you wouldn’t tarry long

Together always we belong

For death could not long separate

Two hearts entwined by love, by fate

Magnificent you’ll find this place

Where pain and tears have been erased

Where God’s pure light illuminates

The beauty of our Savior’s face

And crystal-clear the river’s flow

That gives new life to those who know

Jesus Christ as King and Lord

He whom our hearts have long adored

So welcome home, my precious bride

Where all but love’s been laid aside

Where we’ll join in the heaven’s song

And forever you and I belong

[1] Matthew 7:14

[2] Psalm 26:11

[3] Mark 8:36

[4] Genesis 26:3-5