Tag Archives: being a light to others

Walking in the Light

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Walking in LightJesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). And He also declared, “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46). When we trust in Christ as our Savior, God rescues us “from the domain of darkness” and transfers us “to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). This domain of darkness refers to Satan’s kingdom, a spiritual realm in which the majority of this world live. When one hear abouts Christ and the good news of the gospel, it affords them the opportunity to “turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). Writing to Christians in Ephesus, Paul said, “you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth—trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph 5:8-10).

You were Formerly Darkness

Prior to our salvation, we not only walked in the darkness, but Paul said, “you were formerly darkness” (Eph 5:8a). Darkness (skotos) is used both literally and figuratively in the Bible. Luke used the term literally when Christ was on the cross, saying, “darkness fell over the whole land” (Luke 23:44). Here, darkness is the result of the absence of sunlight, either partial or complete. However, Jesus used the word when talking to the chief priests, officers, and elders (Luke 22:52), saying, “this hour and the power of darkness are yours” (Luke 22:53). The Jewish authorities were operating according to Satan’s agenda and were, therefore, his instruments of evil to crucify the Messiah. The power of darkness includes demonic forces that dominate and drive this world system. Paul referred to them as “the rulers, the powers, the world forces of this darkness, [and] the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

Paul used the verb form of darkness (skotoō) when talking about the pagan mind, which he described as “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph 4:18; cf. Rom 1:21). The darkened mind is one devoid of divine revelation, where any genuine thought of God is excluded (ignorance), and it is driven by negative volition (hardness of heart).

Ephesians 5:8, Paul used darkness as a metaphor for spiritual blindness, separation from God, and participation in sin (cf. John 3:19-20). Darkness is a state of being as well, a sphere of residence, and a way of thinking and living. According to Solomon, the wicked are those “who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways” (Prov 2:13-15).

Now You are Light in the Lord

Now that we are saved, we “are light in the Lord” (Eph 5:8b), a truth that reflects our new identity in Christ. In the New Testament, the term light (phōs) is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to physical light, such as the light of a lamp or the sun (Matt 5:15; Acts 12:7). Metaphorically, it symbolizes truth, holiness, life, and the presence of God. Jesus is described as the “Light of the world” (John 8:12), signifying His role as the revelation of God and the source of spiritual life.

The prepositional phrase “in the Lord” (en kuriō) denotes sphere or position and highlights our identity with Christ. Positional truth is distinct from experiential truth. But without positional truth, experiential truth would be impossible. By way of analogy, I am an American citizen, which speaks to my identity as a citizen of my country. My citizenship is a fixed reality that provides me with certain rights and privileges, as well as the responsibility to live as a good citizen. A noncitizen, by contrast, cannot enjoy the benefits that come with this status. Just as I cannot live as a good citizen of my country without first being a citizen, I cannot live the Christian life without first being in Christ. My identity in Christ—positional truth—forms the unchanging basis for my spiritual life, enabling me to live as God intends and to enjoy the blessings of salvation, blessings that an unbeliever cannot experience. Our position as light in the Lord brings a responsibility to reflect that light in our daily conduct. This means our performance—how we think, speak, and act—should align with our position in Christ. To walk as children of light is to live in a manner consistent with our new nature. This includes rejecting the deeds of darkness, such as immorality, greed, and deceit (Eph 5:3-7).

Walk as Children of Light

Walking in Light 2To us who are in Christ, Paul writes, “walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8c). This is the Lord’s will for us. The directive assumes we can walk in darkness, otherwise it’s an unnecessary command. The word walk translates the Greek verb peripateō, which is used here as a metaphor for how we live. The verb is in the active voice, present tense, and imperative mood. The active voice means we have the responsibility to act as God directs, and the present tense refers to habitual conduct, and the imperative mood means it’s a command to be obeyed. To walk as children of light means living transparently before God who sees all we think, say, and do. It also means we live in way that reflects His glory for others to see, and we seek to bring others to God through Christ and His Word that they might know and walk with the Lord too. But those who love the darkness (John 3:19)—and they are the majority of humanity—will avoid spiritual Christians because our values and lifestyle reveal the darkness of their hearts and lives, and they want nothing to do with us and will avoid biblical conversation and fellowship at all costs, even resorting to violence when they feel threatened.

The Fruit of the Light

A Woman Looking to God 2Paul does not leave us guessing as to what the production of our walk with the Lord should look like, as he states, “for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9). The fruit refers to the qualities that are seen in God Himself (Gal 5:22-23), and when we are filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:15), and walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16), the Light within us will shine forth and bear fruit for others to see. This requires us to walk in fellowship with God, to “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7), which means submitting to Him (Jam 4:7) and walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7) as obedient-to-the-Word believers. But if we “walk in the darkness” (1 John 1:6), which is always a possibility for the Christian, there will be nothing noticeable to distinguish us from an unbeliever who lives in perpetual carnality (1 Cor 3:1-3).

Goodness (agathōsunē) connotes generosity in one’s dealings with others and reflects God’s generosity toward us as His children. It speaks of moral excellence that seeks God’s best in the lives of others by means of prayer, good works, and a heart of grace that is open handed toward the needy.

Righteousness (dikaiosunē) denotes conformity to a moral standard. Here, it speaks of the life that is rightly aligned with God’s character and Word. It is the life that is walking by faith in God’s Word and doing right in His sight, and such a life is manifest for others to see. Those who are positive to God and love His Word will celebrate the life that is in conformity with the Lord, and those who are negative to God and love evil will despise it.

Truth (alētheia) denotes genuineness and honesty. It refers to what is real and actual rather than what is false. Truth is the basis for making sense of what is, and abiding by right actions rather than living by lies and deception. It refers both to speech and conduct that is aligned with God and His Word.  

Goodness and righteousness and truth were qualities of King Hezekiah, of whom it is written, “Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God. Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered” (2 Ch 31:20-21).

Trying to Learn What is Pleasing to the Lord

Parents Teaching their ChildrenThose of us who learn and live God’s Word on a regular basis are “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph 5:10). There’s only one way to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, and that is to learn His Word and walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38). God has revealed Himself and His will through His written Word, and when we devote ourselves to the daily study of Scripture, we come to know what pleases the Lord. Every thought, word, and deed must be measured by the Word God as it speaks to our conversations, friendships, resources, work ethic, and every aspect of life. When we yield our lives to God and walk by faith in obedience to His Word, we know that it pleases Him, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb 11:6).

Light refers to the production of our lives, the good works we produce when filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), and walking with God (Gal 5:16). Jesus said to His disciples, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). It also speaks to our relationships, as we are instructed, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor 6:14).

Believer Beware

Christians should know there is a pseudo-light that deceives the ignorant, immature, and arrogant believer. Scripture reveals that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14) and that “his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor 11:15). This is a warning to Christians. Satan, described elsewhere as the “god of this world” who blinds the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor 4:4), operates through cunning and deceit. His ability to “disguise himself as an angel of light” illustrates his strategy of imitating what is good, righteous, and truthful to mislead others. The imagery of an angel of light conveys the idea that Satan’s deceptions often appear attractive, virtuous, and even spiritually legitimate, making them particularly dangerous. His goal is to distort God’s truth and lead people away from the genuine light of Christ, who is the true source of spiritual life and truth (John 8:12).

Similarly, Paul states that Satan’s servants “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor 11:15). These individuals, whether false teachers or other agents of deception, cloak themselves in the appearance of godliness to gain credibility and influence. They may teach partial truths, use Scripture out of context, or adopt the language of righteousness while ultimately promoting doctrines or practices that lead people astray. Paul reveals the end of such individuals, saying, “Their end will be according to their deeds” (2 Cor 11:15). We must judge the root by the fruit (Matt 7:21-23). But to the degree Christians are ignorant of God’s Word, we are vulnerable to Satan’s influences, and the key to detecting them is through learning God’s Word, and the key to avoiding his traps is through living God’s Word.

In conclusion, as Christians, we are called to walk in the light, reflecting the truth, goodness, and righteousness that characterize our new identity in Christ. God has “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), where we are regenerated (1 Pet 1:3), indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16), baptized into union with Christ (1 Cor 12:13), sealed for the day of redemption (Eph 1:13; 4:30). Our new position comes with spiritual blessings that enable us to live spiritually pleasing lives (Rom 6:11-13). Our Christian walk requires a commitment to studying God’s Word (2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2), being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16), and living by faith (2 Cor 5:17; Jam 1:22). This life will naturally bear fruit that honors God and serves as a witness to others. However, we must remain vigilant against false lights, as Satan seeks to deceive with imitations of righteousness. By walking in the light, we fulfill our calling as children of God, bearing testimony to the world of His saving power.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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Walking Worthy of God’s Call to Service

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The greatest event in our lives occurred when we became “children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26), believing the simple gospel message “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Nothing compares with it. Nothing at all. For that single decision has forever changed the course of our lives and eternal destinies in ways we can never fully calculate. Through faith in Christ, we were forgiven all our sins (Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14), given the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), eternal life (John 10:28), became “children of God” (John 1:12), were rescued “from the domain of darkness” and transferred “to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), and are now brothers and sisters to Jesus, Who is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15). These, and other wonderful blessings have been bestowed on us who are now, in Christ.

After being “justified as a gift by His grace” (Rom 3:24), we are called into phase two of the Christian life, which is our sanctification. In this phase, we start off as newborn babes in Christ, knowing little about God and His Word. As spiritual babies, our primary objective is to grow into spiritual adulthood, to “press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1), “no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14), but “to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Eph 4:14-15). We advance to spiritual maturity by learning and living God’s Word on a daily basis, as we feed on “the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet 2:2). The reality is that we cannot live what we do not know, and learning God’s Word necessarily precedes living His will. But, it is possible to learn His Word and not live His will. For this reason, we must be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” who delude ourselves (Jam 1:22).

Called Into Service to the King

Now that we are God’s people and are growing spiritually, we are called into service to the King, to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph 4:1). Paul uses similar language when writing to Christians in Thessalonica, saying, “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Th 2:12). We are called to a mission, and our mission field is wherever we happen to be and includes whoever we happen to meet. To fulfill our divine objective requires submission, humility, commitment, biblical education, field training, and advancement testing. We reach the spiritual high-ground by operating by faith as God’s Word saturates our thinking and directs our speech and behavior. And this dynamic life of service is executed in the Lord’s power, for “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Pet 4:11).

Sadly, not everyone answers the call to service, as our positional justification does not guarantee our experiential sanctification. But for those few who do answer the call, there is no better life, no higher calling, no nobler pursuit, than that which we live in our daily walk with the God of the universe who has called us “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9; cf. Eph 4:8-9). As those who are now “the saints in Light” (Col 1:12), we need to act like it. God expects our performance to reflect our position in Christ, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light; for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph 5:8-10). And we are to “lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12), and learn to function “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15). Being a light in the world means helping those who are positive to God to know Him. It means sharing Scripture with them. It means sharing the gospel of grace to the lost who want to know God so they might be saved (1 Cor 15:3-4; Eph 2:8-9). And for Christians who want to grow spiritually, it means helping them know God’s Word so they can advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1; cf., 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). Such a life glorifies God, edifies others, and results in joy for the believer.

Our service to the Lord takes place in an ever fluctuating hostile environment that is largely governed by Satan. And we’re not told why, but for His own sovereign reasons, God permits Satan a modicum of freedom in our world, to influence mankind to function apart from God.[1] As believers-on-a-mission, we are instructed, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15a), and “do not be conformed to this world” (Rom 12:2a), for “friendship with the world is hostility toward God” (Jam 4:4). The world (κόσμος kosmos) does not refer to the physical planet (γῆ ge), but to those values and philosophies that are antithetical to God and His Word, which values and philosophies originate in Satan, the prince of darkness, and are promoted by his demonic forces and those people who belong to his kingdom of darkness.[2] It’s helpful for us to know that Satan’s world-system is unreformable, being systemically corrupt throughout.[3] Being irredeemable, Satan’s world-system can only be resisted. For those people who are trapped in that system, we share the gospel of grace with the hope that they will turn to Christ and be rescued out of it. When someone turns to Christ as their Savior, they are liberated from “the dominion of Satan” (Acts 26:18), as God rescues them “from the domain of darkness” and transfers them “to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). This is their new reality in Christ, as they have been transferred from one kingdom to another.[4]

As we grow spiritually and walk with God, learning and living His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17), we will stand in opposition to Satan’s world-system and sow the seeds of spiritual insurrection in the lives of those who live and walk in his kingdom of darkness. We disrupt Satan’s kingdom when we share the free grace gospel that liberates others from spiritual bondage and brings them into relationship with God. The gospel is the only way a person can be delivered from spiritual slavery; “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Once saved, we seek to influence the thoughts and lives of other Christians through biblical teaching (1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim 4:2), fellowship (Heb 10:23-25), prayer (Jam 5:16), edification (Eph 4:29), encouragement (1 Th 5:11), love (1 Th 4:9; cf. Eph 4:14-15), and words of grace (Col 4:6).

But Satan does not want us to succeed and will work to hinder us, either by pleasures or pressures. When we fail, and we occasionally will (Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; Rom 7:18-21; Jam 3:2), it’s important to confess our sins directly to God and accept His forgiveness (1 John 1:9), get back into the arena and “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12), and share God’s gospel of grace with all who will listen. And as we promote the gospel and biblical teaching, we will disrupt Satan’s domain of darkness by calling out of it a people for God. Worldly-minded people may not want to hear what we have to say, and their personal choices should be respected (Matt 10:14; Acts 13:50-51), but they should never be under the false impression that they have the right to quiet us.[5]

Ultimately, we know God’s plans will advance. He will win. The future messianic kingdom on earth will come to pass. Christ will return. Jesus will put down all forms of rebellion—both satanic and human—and will rule this world with perfect righteousness and justice. But until then, we must continue to learn and live God’s Word and fight the good fight. We are to live by faith (Heb 10:38; 11:6), share the gospel of grace (1 Cor 15:3-4), disciple others (Matt 28:19-20), be good and do good (Gal 6:9-10; Tit 2:11-14), and look forward to the return of Christ at the rapture (Tit 2:13; cf. John 14:1-3; 1 Th 4:13-18).

Summary

As Christians, we have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Our salvation results in forgiveness of sins, the gift of righteousness, eternal life, and a new status as a child of God. After our salvation, we are called to journey towards spiritual maturity and service to our God and King. The journey involves learning God’s Word and applying it by faith, and service to the King requires submission, humility, commitment, field training, and advancement testing. As God’s children, we are to glorify God in all things, be lights in a dark world, and help others know Him and grow spiritually. But we live in the reality that living the Christian life is not always easy and will be met with opposition, both from Satan and other people who operate according to their fallen natures. Despite this opposition, we are encouraged to share the gospel of grace and biblical truth with others, to live by faith, and serve as ambassadors for God. By promoting the gospel and biblical teaching, we disrupt Satan’s domain of darkness by calling people to God. While not everyone wants to hear the gospel or Bible teaching, believers should be respectful, conversational, and never have a confrontational attitude, as arrogance never helps advance biblical truth. Ultimately, we know God will establish his righteous kingdom on earth after the Second Coming of Jesus, so we look forward to His return.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] God always retains His sovereignty over His creation, for “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Psa 103:19). As believers, we know “our God is in the heavens, and He does whatever He pleases” (Psa 115:3), and that “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” (Dan 4:17).

[2] Our world is fallen for two reasons. First, at some time in the past—we don’t know exactly when—there was an angelic revolt in heaven, where an angel, of the class of cherubim, by the name of Lucifer, sinned against God and led an angelic revolt (Isa 14:12-14; Ezek 28:12-17). The result was that a third of the angels fell with Satan (Rev 12:4), and this created his kingdom of darkness. But Satan expanded his kingdom of darkness when he convinced the first humans, Adam and Eve, to follow him rather than God (Gen 3:1-8). When Adam and Eve sinned, they abandoned their position as theocratic administrators (Gen 1:26-28) and handed the title deed of the world over to Satan (Luke 4:5-6), who now rules over the realm of mankind. Three times Jesus referred to Satan as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Other Scriptures call Satan “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), informing us “that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). And Satan is no benevolent dictator, but rules as a tyrant who has “weakened the nations” (Isa 14:12), and currently “deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9; cf. Rev 20:3). Satan rules by deception, oppression, and enslavement; and because he is a finite creature, he relies on others—fallen angels and people—to help him advance his agenda. These are his useful idiots.

[3] Systemic corruption refers to a form of corruption that cannot separate the inherently immoral values from the institutions and processes that guide them. This corruption permeates the entire fabric of Satan’s system, and reflects his values, strategies, and practices. And Satan’s corruption infects most of society, influencing those who accept his values and practices, who range from high-ranking officials to everyday citizens.

[4] In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matt 13:36-43). In that parable, Jesus said, “the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one” (Matt 13:38). This is a picture of reality, as the whole world is split into two groups of people, the saved (good seed) and the lost (weeds). This means everyone we meet is either a child of God or a child of Satan. Those are the only two options. And this state of affairs will continue until Christ returns at His second coming, at which time He will remove all unbelievers (Matt 13:39), and will establish His earthly kingdom for a thousand years (Matt 6:10; Rev 20:4-6). Afterwards, all unbelievers will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne judgment and be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15).

[5] As God’s influencers in the world, we should never try to force the gospel or Bible teaching on anyone, but be willing to share when opportunity presents itself. At times this will bring peace, and other times cause offense and disruption. In this interaction, we must be careful not to fall into the exclusion trap, in which the worldly person (whether saved or lost) controls the content of every conversation, demanding we only talk about worldly issues, as Scripture threatens his pagan presuppositions. Having the biblical worldview, we should insert ourselves into daily conversations with others, and in so doing, be a light in a dark place. We should always be respectful, conversational, and never have a fist-in-your-face attitude, as arrogance never helps advance biblical truth (2 Tim 2:24-26).

A Tribute to a Godly Grandmother

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Jeanette Boerner O'DonnellJeanette K. Boerner O’Donnell (4/19/1893 to 12/21/1984) was the only grandparent I knew growing up in Lancaster, California, in the mid 70’s. I was 8 and she was 80 when she came to live in our home for about two years. We stood eye to eye and weighed about the same. She had a crown of silvery hair and kept her shoulders straight when she walked. Her gentle demeanor made others feel welcome. She was loved by those who knew her. 

       Jeanette K. Boerner 1930Jeanette was born in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and lived there until she moved to California in the 1920’s to attend college (see genealogy). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1929 and then moved to Lancaster, California, where she was involved in her church. She was gifted in music and played the clarinet, the mandolin and the piano. Her love for God as a young girl continued into her adult life and she was not shy about sharing the Lord with others she met along the way. 

       She occupied the little bedroom near the front of the house. My room was next to hers, cattycorner across the hall. I walked past her bedroom each morning as I headed to the kitchen for breakfast. Usually awake at sunrise, she had the habit of praising God before getting out of bed, and sometimes I could hear her whispering praises to the Lord. This was her habit every morning. She would hold her hands slightly above the bedcovers and count praises on her fingertips. A hundred praises before she got out of bed. She liked to start each day with worship and honor to the Lord and often had tears by the time she finished her hundredth praise; tears and a smile. Her love for God was genuine, and it flowed out of her in praise for Him and love for others. My grandmother believed in godly habits, as they led to godly character. 

A Woman Studying the BibleMy grandmother used to say, “Be disciplined in your life.” By discipline she meant, “do what you ought to do, whether you want to do it or not, because it’s right.” When she spoke of doing what is “right”, she often meant according to the standard of God’s Word. For her, the Bible was the guide for Christian faith and conduct. The Christian was to learn God’s Word and then live it on daily basis. She modeled her Christian faith regularly. She also taught me basic rules of etiquette. She demonstrated politeness and good manners toward others and always had good posture when standing, walking or sitting. As a family, we were very poor financially, but she explained that was no excuse for poor manners, a poor work ethic, or a poor education. Above all, it was no excuse to be poor in love. As Christians, we were to look to Christ, both as our Savior and role model. I must admit, at that time, I did not understand my grandmother, and it took nearly thirteen years of growing up before I began to appreciate her in a fuller way. That’s the way it goes in life. We sometimes learn things we don’t fully understand until later, or we don’t appreciate some people until we grow older. 

       My grandmother was an anomaly to me. She was out of place in the world that I knew. My parents, siblings and friends were consumed with their own lives and were steeped in worldly values. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes, but my grandmother sought the Lord. She was a light in a dark place. She represented the highest and best in good behavior at a time when all others around me represented the lowest and worst. It’s easy to be worldly when everyone around you is worldly, but she chose to be godly and to live by biblical values. 

       She was not afraid to share Christ with others. I was with her once in a department store when she decided to share Christ with the man standing next to her. The man was well over six feet, bearded, scruffy, and wearing a black leather jacket with writing on the back. My grandmother turned to him and asked, “Have you made the most important decision of your life?” I did not understand what she was asking him. About fifteen minutes later she was standing with him over in a corner of the store and was sharing the gospel of Christ with him. She explained that Jesus had died on the cross for his sins and was assuring him that he could receive the gift of eternal life if he would trust in Christ as his Savior. A moment later they both closed their eyes and she prayed with him. She was bold when sharing the Gospel of God’s grace. 

       I remember a conflict I’d had with her once at the house. I’d defied her one morning when she’d asked me to perform a trivial task. I remember looking her square in the eyes and saying “no”. She asked me again to do what she wanted, and again I said “no”. She said, “If you don’t do what I ask, you can spend an hour in your room.” I told her, “No I won’t.” I don’t know why I defied her. She promptly grabbed me by my ear and walked me across the living room and down the hall and put me in my bedroom and said, “stay in your room for an hour and then come out and do what I’ve asked.” I told her “no” and proceeded to wrestle with her. She walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. I grabbed the door and pulled it open, and she pulled it shut, then we tugged on the door back and forth for a few seconds until I finally gave up and sat down on my bed. I sat and read my Curious George book, angry that I was made to stay in my room for an hour. After about twenty minutes I thought perhaps she’d gone away, so I quietly snuck over to the door and gently placed my hands on the knob, and with a quick turn I pulled on the door and was surprised to see my grandmother standing on the other side. She was surprised at my attempt to escape. She quickly pulled the door shut and said, “I’ll stand here the whole hour if that’s what it takes to keep you in your room.” And that’s exactly what she did. Afterwards she let me out and I did what she asked. My respect for her increased greatly. 

       My grandmother moved away after being with us for nearly two years. Eventually she went to live with my uncle in North Hollywood. She stayed there until her death in 1984. She suffered a stroke one day at the house and died a few days later at a local hospital. My older sister Cindy was able to visit our grandmother in the hospital before she died. Cindy kissed her cheek, thanked her for her love, sang a hymn and prayed with her while holding her hand. Though limited by her stroke, my grandmother continued to pray and praise the Lord until she died. Her faith was strong to the end of her life. She was a trophy of God’s grace to all her knew her.

       In closing, there was a great spiritual void in my life after my grandmother moved away. There was no one to help me memorize Scripture or teach me right from wrong. As I grew older the ways of the world filled my soul and I fell into darkness. By the time I was 21 I’d ruined my life with drugs and was living on the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. I woke one morning to the sound of children walking past the fence near the alley where I’d slept the night before. Years of bad choices and heavy drug use had caught up with me and the few weeks I’d spent living on the streets and at a homeless shelter were enough to wake me to the despair of my situation. Worldly living had produced such a darkness within me, there were times I had considered suicide as a solution to end the misery that was my pathetic life. However, there was hope that morning on the grass. God’s voice broke through, as the influence of a godly grandmother came to my mind. I was thinking about Psalm chapter 1, which my grandmother helped me memorize when I was 8. I kept repeating that Psalm over in my mind, and it helped me focus on God rather than the despair of my situation. From that moment onward I began to look to the Lord and Scripture for guidance. My life has been an uphill climb out of the ash heap ever since then, and I thank God for His blessing me more than I deserve. I am thankful for the godly grandmother He placed in my life at a young age. The biblical seeds she planted took root and have been growing ever since. My life is richer because of her. 

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] The Boerner family genealogy: https://boernerfamily.wordpress.com/.