The Truth Shall Make You Free
By Jody Griffin
Avery and Mitchell County
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
I once served as pastor for a lady who had been blind since her childhood. Her sisters loved her so and provided such wonderful care for her. Her name was “Sister” and she was my teacher in many ways.
Sister would always delight in my visits and she would inevitably leave me feeling so richly blessed just for having spent time with her. Isn’t it just like God to turn a ministry around from giving to receiving?
Eventually, Sister had a series of life-threatening events wherein her faithful sisters were told she likely would not be with them much longer. Time after time this frail bodied little believer would astound physicians, her family members, and preachers by rebounding. She was such a tough one! Time after time she would speak of her trust in the One.
Most impressive about her was the fact that in the years I knew her, I never once heard Sister complain. Not once did she bemoan her fate. Not once did she question why she had to endure life without her sight. No, this woman’s faith in God through Christ Jesus her Lord was all she needed to endure. She trusted God with all of her heart.
Towards her last days, I had been granted access to a collection of favorite Scriptures that my friend had compiled to read to his mother. I purchased several copies of this compilation and took one to Sister. Explaining to her that I wanted to give her a gift of never-ending value, I opened the book and began to read the Scriptures written therein. Sister lay there with an expression of peace that truly was beyond all understanding.
One day she had some sort of “event” and one of her siblings requested I hurry to her bedside. Arriving I found Sister lying in the bed, writhing in pain, and greatly agitated. So I did what I had been doing with her so frequently, I read aloud God’s Word. This particular day Sister’s condition had rendered her unable to speak or move. But as I read the sweet Word of God’s promise to her, tears began to flow from her eyes. She couldn’t see, but she could listen. And as she listened, the Lord moved…
She died soon after and I realized that I had been allowed into her room that day to witness the Truth of this verse. Sweet little blind Sister had experienced the lamp of God for her feet and the light of God for her path! And that path had led her into her eternal dwelling.
COVID restrictions currently prevent offenders from attending corporate worship services. To offset this temporary loss, as Chaplain I have begun positioning myself near where every one of the men passes on their way to/from their meals. Each day I have offered to those who will receive it, a passage of Scripture that will encourage, uplift, and bless them. One man told me that he looks forward to receiving that Blessing every day because he goes back and reads that passage immediately. And when he does, the Lord “opens his eyes to the glory of God”! This is a wonderful reminder that God’s Word can equip us to face life’s challenges and keep on keeping on…until we too are led into our eternal dwelling. Thanks, Be to God!
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Jody Griffin is pastor of Central Baptist Church in Spruce Pine and Community Funded Chaplin at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution. If you would like more information contact him at joseph.griffin@ncdps.gov.
You can read more Good News from Jody HERE.
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