This past weekend I had a rather eye-opening experience, that greatly saddened me.
My brother Rick called me, asking about the last time I ever heard any news about our old youth pastor, from when we were teens (too many years ago..). "Its funny you asked," I said, "I was thinking about him just last week." Rick told me, "I think I found him."
Some background- Johnny (name changed) was an exciting, young, energetic youth pastor that came to our church when I was in 10th grade, and was a new believer. The youth group grew, reached many new kids for Christ, and Johnny was a role model for many of us. They were great years, and I made great memories in that youth group.
But Johnny had a character flaw, that became apparent after I graduated. He was found to have been committing adultery on his wife. He resigned his position, but they got counseling to preserve their marriage. They eventually moved back to Fla., to the church they came from, and he served under his former pastor again, who gave him another chance. We later heard he had another affair on his wife, which destroyed his marriage and his ministry. The last I had ever heard of Johnny, he was back up here in Ga., living in Conyers, running a successful sign-making business. It seemed, finally, all was settling down in his troubled life.
But Rick told me about a "MySpace" page he had found, with a guy that looked remarkably like Johnny. The guy had tons of pics of himself at bars & nightclubs, surrounded by women much younger than him, with wild partying, drinking, etc. going on. He called himself a "celebrity photographer", and it looked like he made a living taking pictures of people living wildly & sinfully. He even had a couple of website links, which also seemed to include a nightclub DJ business, among other things.
I looked at him in all his pictures, and told Rick, "Yeah, that's him- I'd know his eyes and smile anywhere." Here he was, gray-haired, wrinkly, in his mid-50s, living like he was some godless 22 year old.
I was saddened and troubled by all I saw. This guy had once been such a great role model to so many of us when we were teens, and look where the choices in his life have brought him to. Sure, he may appear, may even believe, his life is one big party, but will he have anything to show for it, at life's end one day?
I pondered him much of the weekend, and thanked God my life didn't go the way of Johnny. At the end of life, all he will have in hand as he stands before God will be failed marriages, destroyed ministry, and a life wasted on vanity, sensuality, and selfish ambition. In other words, nothing.
I don't want that to ever be said of my life. I want to stand before my Father one day, and hear Him say, "Well done, son. Welcome home." In fact, if I could write my own epitaph for my tombstone, I hope it will be, "He walked with God, and brought others along." That's what I want my life characterized by. The things that will last.
Jesus said of the last days, "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:12-13.
May I walk with God, bring others with me, and endure to the end.