A Man Named Charlie
When people are buried, they disappear into the ground and grass soon covers it over. But one thing is almost always left hanging out of the grave: the name. The Bible is big on names. One has only to read the several rosters of names in the Bible to realize that God makes a lot of names. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (John 1:6).
God carefully unfolded His own name to Moses and to those he led. God's name was a mystery, from the great "I Am" to several forms of Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai, and El.
One of the Ten Commandments given to Moses said: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
His Son was coming to earth one day and He would have a special name: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phlippians 2:9-11).
God made us in His image (Genesis 1:26) and part of that likeness is that we should have names; not numbers. Names in the Bible had meaning. Many names used today either begin or end with "el." Samuel, Daniel, Elizabeth, Rachel and Michael are a few. Names were given to urge a child toward godly living; something to live up to. But the modern trend is to dispense names to newborns because they sound good or strike a fancy.
In growing up, I heard "live up to your family name" or "don't disgrace your family name." I should not have climbed the fence and stole watermelons out of a farmer's watermelon patch with some teen buddies. My name means: "God is my judge." I violated my name in the watermelon patch…once.
The tombstone above us inscribed with the name: Charles A. Richards. Charles is of old German origin and has at least 27 variations, including Carl. I doubt if this Charles had any idea where his name came from but since he had it, he would guard it carefully and make it stand for something upright and dependable. He lived his life that way. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches….(Proverbs 22:1a)
Charlie was born September 11, 1875. I attended his funeral on September 3, 1954; just eight days shy of his 79th birthday. I was thirteen days shy of 20. He was my favorite grandpa because in Medlock Hollow I had followed him everywhere he went, doing everything he did (sort of). I loved my daddy and liked to be with him when he was not off sawmilling somewhere. But, Grandpa Richards was my strongest male role model from the time I was four. I called him Grandpa. My mother called him Papa. Most people called him Charlie.
Last weekend we visited Charlie's gravesite and eight others (including Grandpa Carr's) and attended the morning service at Falling Springs Baptist Church on the Wilder Highway between Alpine and Allred, Tennessee. The day before was my Homesteads High School class reunion (58th year) at Crossville, Tennessee.
We hear a lot about "generation gap" today. My generation gap was that my parents and grandparents knew more than I did and the smartest thing I could do was to listen more and talk less when they were around.
What a blessing it was to realize early in life that I was new on Planet Earth and my ancestors were smarter than me. We hear some youth today use the worn-out cliché: "You don't understand!" Truth is: we DO understand. The difference is that we don't agree. We understand that if you keep walking down the railroad track into that tunnel, you are going to meet a freight train that's not going your way.
McGee observes: "John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah, [and] would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. He was to bridge the generation gap. Our problem today is not so much that there is a gap between the adults and youth but that there is a gap between adults and God. If adults had a proper relationship with God, they would not have the problem with young people that exists"
Charlie understood that his word was his bond and that if he gave his word on something, he would forfeit the family farm before he would go back on his word. No wonder that this man who finished the 3rd grade probably had the biggest funeral attendance in the history of Falling Springs Baptist Church, and it is a very old church.
Charlie was slow to advise another man how he ought to plow his mule. He was not always preaching to people. He taught no Sunday school class and sang in no choir. But his life preached so loud and he was so encouraging to people around him that he was a walking Bible. He was a tough act for me to follow. That's why his tombstone is in my computer screen saver album and comes around frequently, reminding me to remember.
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2Corinthians 3:2-3) Ω
A Christian Attitude―Barbara Carr
Paul gives us some really good insights and advice.
"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me wasnot in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was withme. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed." (1Corinthians 15:9-11)
Humility. Paul calls himself the least of the apostles. He had persecuted the church of God. He considers himself to be the chief of sinners. Just as our sins remind us of who we are, Paul's sins reminded him of his life of scoffing and profanity. He tells us that it is "by the grace of God I am what I am."
If we understand divine mercy, we cannot hide pride in our hearts. Paul believed that the grace that saved him is sufficient for all. We are all equal in the sight of God. You may believe your sins were not as great as Paul's, but we are all guilty of the sins that nailed Jesus to the cross. Remembering where we were when the Lord saved us will produce humility and a deep sense of unworthiness. Paul worked as hard or harder than all the apostles, but he tells us that it was the grace of God that enabled him to accomplish what he did.
A Sense of Obligation. Paul never lost sight of how far God's grace had brought him. He often told his followers of his role in persecuting the church. (I Timothy 1:13) In all his travels, imprisonment and heartache, Paul kept praising the Lord for the privilege of serving.
A Sense of Dependence: Paul knew what it was like to depend upon one's own goodness and work to be religious and he wanted no part of it. Paul desired more of Jesus and none of himself.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: " (Philippians 3:8-9)
Paul made a voluntary choice of Jesus Christ, His cross, His poverty, and His reproach. He was completely dependent on God.
A Spirit of Absolute Confidence. When Paul was nearing death, he was as certain as ever that God was real, in charge, and worthy of all honor, glory and praise.
"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:11)
Christ's glory is revealed in the life of a genuine follower by everything that he does and says. A true Christian loves to glorify God. He shows this by his conversation in declaring the glorious works and power of the Lord.
What about Our Attitudes?
Do we have these attitudes? It may help to read more about Paul and his life. We need to praise the Lord for all He has done for us and to work for Him until He calls us home.
"His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:" (1 Corinthians 15:10) Ω
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