My dear son,
I realize you will be serving Christ in a world far different than the one where I was trained and first released into ministry. Your methods, your dress, your vocabulary, the technologies you use and even the problems you face may have little in common with the world I knew, or even the world in which we both minister today. You will be a faithful servant of Christ not because you mimic my words or imitate my ministry style, but because you live out the timeless values we share – values that come to us from the Word of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
So while I still have the opportunity, I want to take a few minutes to summarize in writing the values and life lessons I have attempted to live out before you and most want to pass on to you…
Please understand that compared to eternity, life on this earth is short. God put us here to learn about Him, how big he is, how perfect He is and how much He loves us. People are not our enemy and sin is not God’s trap to hurt us. People are trapped by the sin that entangles us and God’s perfect love delivered through the sacrifice of His own son, Jesus, on the cross will deliver us and everyone who will accept Him.
Of all the good and bad that is in this short life, I pray that you allow God to draw you closer to Him through it and that you will set your goal to help as many people find Jesus and the freedom he gives by following Him.
Life has many paradoxes. The scriptures shed the only perfect light on these questions and trials. I pray that you will be a real student of the Word of God and do 2 things with it:
- Read it, study it and let it sink deep within your spirit to guide you in all manner of life choices and relationships. It is the only guide that is complete and accurate to give you understanding and purpose in this life.
- And that you use it to show others the way to freedom and true life. You are no authority. The principles and teachings of Scripture have God’s authority to change lives.
God is in these paradoxes. He is truth and love. He says you will find true freedom by following Him like a slave would his master. He will not compromise truth but He will forgive any sin that is confessed and repented of and grant freedom.
Love God and love people enough that you will live His principles so that they will want to be like you because you are like Him. If you can do it so can they. In the end, make God proud. I will be as well.
Larry Humberd
