On January 10, 2022, Jon and I came down with a horrible case of the flu (or so we thought). We later found out that we both had COVID. Jon’s case was much worse than mine, requiring him to be hospitalized. Three days later, Jon was placed in a medically induced coma because he required a ventilator to help him breath. On February 16th, after many ups and downs, Jon’s body finally gave up the fight and he went to be with the Lord.
One of my biggest regrets is that we lost that last month with him. There were no final conversations, no sage advice, no words of wisdom to share with his family and friends who are now left to do life without him. This past week however, I realized that Jon had already given us his advice and insight. Each time he taught, or preached, he gave us a glimpse of his heart and the heart of God.
In 2009, the group Sidewalk Prophets released a song that summarizes so many of the truths and principles that Jon has shared with us over the years. As we are still feeling his loss, I thought this would be a good time to recognize the legacy of truth that Jon has left for us.
Be Strong In The Lord And, Never Give Up Hope:
In Joshua chapter 1, the angel of the Lord appears before Joshua as he is mentally preparing to enter the promised land where previous reports had warned of the presence of giants. His advice to Joshua:
“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
During our years of ministry, there were many times that the “giants” we faced were intimidating. In our humanity we would have cut and run, but God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and without fail God gave us the courage and strength to face them down.
God's Got His Hand On You So, Don't Live Life In Fear:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
I don’t believe I ever saw Jon show signs of fear. He knew that God was in control and lived his life on that foundation. He was by no means an adrenaline junky, but he didn’t let fear dictate his decisions. Don’t get me wrong, our life was just like yours. It contained car accidents, illness, financial problems, the loss of jobs, weighty decisions, and even tornado warnings. While I can't say that I handled each of those challenges in a fearless manner, Jon was a source of strength and confidence because of his unshakeable trust in God.
Don’t let fear rob you of the life that God has for you. Fear and faith are complete opposites. Choose faith. You won’t regret it.
Forgive and Forget:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Forgiveness was big on Jon’s list of things to talk about.
Forgiveness isn't a free pass so that the other person will feel better about themselves, forgiveness is for you. When we choose to hold onto offenses, we essentially make that person indebted to us. They owe us and they need to repay. That mindset will lead to anger, frustration, and bitterness. Forgiveness frees you from all of that. The person may never know or acknowledge the debt, but you will experience freedom.
Don't Forget Why You're Here:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
I've heard Jon say on many occasions, that “God doesn’t waste skin”. You were created for a purpose and God has a plan for your life.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of planning out our lives, then getting frustrated when things don’t go as planned. It’s those times that we have forgotten why we’re here.
One of Jon’s favorite verses regarding “why we’re here” was Ephesians 3:10:
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
Don’t chase life around like a dog after a ball. Seek God first, then all the other stuff will fall into place. Maybe not the way you originally planned, but the way it will best benefit you and the kingdom of God.
Take Your Time And Pray:
Prayer and Bible reading were a part of Jon’s daily routine. If he had to get up and go to work, he would get up an hour or two earlier so he’d have time to read his Bible and pray.
Jon knew where his strength and direction came from. He knew that to be in a relationship (key word relationship) with God, he had to talk with God and know the words of God. Many of Jon’s sermons spoke of our need for a daily devotional time.
In the busy world we live in, its easy to overbook our time. We end up having no time for God. Stop. Nothing is more important. Take time. Make time. Just like your car can't run without fuel, we can’t properly function without regularly filling up our spirits.
These truths are not original. Jon was not the first to share them. Instead, they are a legacy to us from men who live hundreds of years ago. Even as their words have shaped Jon’s life, we have the ability to do the same with those around us. Each time we share his words and his testimony, we ensure that Jon’s legacy will live on.
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