Finishing Well and Leaving Spiritual Legacies

Briefly deviating from the series on our Savior, the recent homecoming of a faithful saint leads me to write this posting. John Crawford passed away Monday, February the 8th. John was in his early 90s. For the large majority of John’s life, he was on staff with The Navigators – a Christian parachurch organization (always very supportive of the local church, I might add) that focuses most notably on one-on-one discipleship, scripture memory and Bible study. John was discipled by the legendary Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators and about whom Billy Graham was quoted saying, “I think Daws has personally touched more lives than anybody I have ever known." John Crawford’s fruit did not fall far, if distanced at all, from his mentor’s tree.

John and his wife Helen had recently been living together in a nursing home in Oklahoma City, no longer able to care for each other. Helen has Alzheimer’s disease, and John’s physical health was waning. Despite his ailing health, John was reportedly continuing to faithfully meet with men that came to see him in the nursing home - still encouraging them in the Lord and in the study and memorization of his Word. He even mentioned to visitors that the nursing home had been a blessing from the Lord to him and Helen. What a remarkable testimony! May God also grant us the grace in Christ to finish the race so well!

Over the past 15 or so years, I have heard John preach numerous times at The Key Men’s Conference. But, not having the privilege of being discipled by John or having intimate personal interaction with him, I can’t claim much of a direct spiritual impact by him on my life. However, John’s indirect impact on my life is immeasurable! Allow me to explain. During John’s many years with the Navigators he likely discipled hundreds of men by sharing his life with them, providing Biblical counsel, leading small study groups, and holding men accountable to Scripture memory and godly living. One of these hundreds of men was my dad.

I’m a little fuzzy on how long ago my dad and John began meeting regularly, but my dad was probably around my age (I’m turning 33 in less than a week). Best I can tell, far more than any other Paul-like mentor in my dad’s life, God used John to deposit the most impactful and lasting seeds of faith and Biblical faithfulness. My dad would be the first to tell you that his life hasn’t always been the easiest, and a fair portion of that stems from mistakes he’s made. Nonetheless, my dad has lived his adult life filled with a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years God has sustained my dad through various heartaches, heartbreaks, injuries and illnesses – the deliverance largely attributed to the Holy Spirit’s ministry to him through the Word of God.

I thank God that through His wonderful work in John Crawford’s life, my dad’s life was eternally impacted – and therefore mine. Some of my fondest and earliest childhood memories with my dad include singing songs to the Lord and praying with us before bedtime, watching him perform puppet shows for children’s church, going to Royal Ambassdors’ (everyone that’s not Southern Baptist has no clue what this is – think Baptist Boy Scouts) Dad and Lad camp every summer 1st through 3rd grade, going with him to the retirement party for Ms. Goddard – the sweet, older cafeteria lady at Camp Hudgens that my dad especially befriended, spending 4th through 6th grade in the Royal Ambassadors class my dad taught at church, seeing my dad love the down-and-out like Christ would, hearing about God’s faithfulness in his life, and observing him consistently spend time with the Lord each morning before he went to work. The list could continue several more pages, but I think you get my point. God so graciously brings other believers into our lives that act as sanctifying agents, without which we would otherwise not become the person he has formed us to be.

The way in which God brings mentors into our lives highlights an important Biblical truth. Some Christians wrongly view God’s role in the universe and in our lives. Instead of knowing God Almighty as the Great Artisan with the world as his canvas, they see him as a cosmic janitor that scurries around, merely cleaning up peoples’ messes. Instead of the Divine Composer and Conductor writing and directing for the world’s symphony, they’ve relegated God to a heavenly sound booth, editing our crummy songs in order to rectify their poor composition and errant notes. Christians, let us not hold so low a view of God, “for from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom 11:35). After God confronts Job with extensive examples of his wisdom, power and might, Job rightly asserts, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). Ephesians 1:11 says that God works all things according to the counsel of his will.

It’s certainly not luck, good fortune or opportune timing that caused John Crawford’s path to cross with the men he discipled. Neither was it ultimately diligent efforts, discipline or initiative. Rather, it’s always God’s sovereign grace upon his people’s lives through vessels of reconciliation. To God alone be all the glory, in all things! In the same breath, Romans 12 tells us to outdo one another in showing honor to each other. So dad, I honor you for the many ways you have shown me the Father. And John Crawford, I honor you for the impact you had on my dad’s life and contributing directly, and mostly indirectly, to the building of my faith. I’m certain that I speak for all the saints that were blessed to know you during your time on earth: We rejoice with you in your present untarnished, uninterrupted, forever-increasing, joy immersed fellowship with our Savior Jesus. We look forward to experiencing the same and seeing you again in Glory. Come, Lord Jesus!