We have a really important thank you letter to write. But the recipient has an undeliverable address at present. Perhaps one day we will see him and be able to thank him in person. His name is John. John is a good name. It was my grandfather's name... eventually. His parents named him Wally Grover Franklin. Unfortunate. Soon after he came to know Jesus, WW1 erupted and he went to the leaders of the church he attended and asked if it was wrong to go to war, knowing that he may be required to take the life of another. He was told to serve his country as a cook in the Army (apparently leaving necessary dirty work to the heathens???) so he went to enlist. When asked for his name, he told them John Franklin and Wally Grover disappeared forever. That will create issues for future descendants working through their genealogy!
John Franklin had many wonderful attributes and with them shaped my father, to a large degree and Dad, in turn, shaped me...therefore, if you are reading this and you know me and I have had any positive influence on your life, when you get to heaven, find my Grandpa John and thank him!
He isn't really the John I was referring to, however. I just like that story about determining to change your identity and going for it! Too good not to share so that part is just extra.... at no charge! The John I am referring to shaped the lives of so many people for so many centuries, including Grandpa John, Dad and Me. The man I speak of loved Jesus and spent three years traveling with Him, learning from Him, watching Him, being transformed by Him. And then he wrote down what he knew to be true of Jesus and His Father, God.
John spoke of Jesus as light in the darkness, truth among deception. He spoke of His friendship and His desire for us to abide in Him. John taught us how Jesus wants us to love and the way He actually demonstrated that love for us. It is in the writing of John that we discover that the opposite of love is not hate, as we may think. The opposite of love is selfishness. You can find that truth in the ever popular verse, John 3:16.
For God loved the world so much that He gave...
If love is giving and selfless and generous, how would you score yourself today? Examine the time that you give, the resources that you share and give yourself a grade. If we grade on the curve, we get an A+ compared to Ebeneezer Scrooge, but then Mother Theresa blows that curve! More important is our generosity with forgiveness and love for others. We can all use some extra time to study before that test is given. Right?
I had the blessing of growing up with the example of love that my dad learned from John Franklin who learned from the Gospel of John. I have seen love personified my entire life. Maybe you were not so blessed. Even so, the One who taught John to love is still teaching us today and when He is living within our hearts, He is shaping us and showing us and directing us down the path of love. Within you is the same power that brought Jesus out of the grave. It's not too late to learn to love well. You can and will make a profound impact on the world, like John, if you will let go of all you are hoarding for your own protection and generously love with the reckless hope of being a life-changing agent to those who live right under your roof.
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