Peggy Locke
Driving home from church with a couple of our grandsons, the 13-year-old asked, “Do we have very many cousins?” He probably asked because of the cousins he’d just seen at church. I answered, “Yes! A lot of cousins.”
I named our immediate family and the cousins that he knows and their families, then Louis’ family, he has a brother and sister, and they have kids, and some of their kids have kids. I had seven brothers and two sisters that had kids, and their kids have kids, and cousins in Michigan and Colorado, and don’t forget your mom has a sister and brother and they have kids, and your grandma had sisters and they had kids, and their kids have kids, and yes you have cousins!
We definitely obeyed the command from God to Noah, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” You know what they say, “Everyone is six degrees of separation away from being related to Kevin Bacon,” referring that any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart.
We were laughing at the end of our conversation. I have had the opportunity to go on several mission trips over the years and I’m thankful I got to experience missions firsthand. I’ve been to Mexico, Cambodia, Aruba and Curacao.
I loved being a part of a team of Christ followers and sharing the good news to people hungry to know God. But the Lord reminded me that there was a mission field right in my own home, in my neighborhood, within the circle of friends and family, in my city — I don’t need to go far to find someone who needs Jesus especially within my own family.
I took to heart the call to share my faith in Jesus Christ with my family. It didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t always well received. It took living out my faith in God in front of the people who knew me best.
I had the honor and privilege of my helping my parents to receive Jesus. I was able to share my faith with several of my brothers, one brother in 1990 after he had been hit by a car. While he was in the hospital, he opened his heart to Jesus.
He passed away a few days later. The Bible assures us that our times are in God’s hands, and he will fulfill the number of our days, so we can trust him even if we don’t understand why bad things happen. I’ve prayed with my family in times of trouble.
They knew they could come to me, and I would pray with them and for them. Just recently, my younger brother died of Acute Myleod Leukemia in the hospital. I went to see him, and we were able to pray together – though he had never opened his heart to God.
One afternoon visit after a restless night he said, “I only want to hear Jesus’ voice.” I asked him, “Are you saying you are ready to receive Jesus?” He said, “Yes!” I prayed with him the sinner’s prayer and afterwards, the peace of God that only he can give, filled his hospital room and filled his soul.
The following week, I got the call that he had passed away. I cried, yet also rejoiced! My brother is in heaven! That confession of sins and receiving forgiveness, his declaration of faith in Jesus as his savior promises him eternal life.
Praise the Lord! It’s because of what Jesus has done for us, died for us, cleansed and forgiven us that we can embrace all God has for us! His word is true. His promises are sure.
Do you have family or friends who are not saved? Pray for them.
Live your life to glorify God and he will open doors for you to share your story — your faith in Jesus Christ. It may take years — it took my brother over 50 years to make the decision to surrender his life to God, but he did. Don’t wait for something bad to happen to open your heart to God. He is waiting for you right now to just ask.
2 Timothy 1:5. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Peggy Locke is assisting minister of Reno Hillside Foursquare Church, co-founding pastor of Carson City Foursquare Church, specialized chaplain.