In my column two weeks ago, "Neither Foolish in April, Nor Any Other Time," I cited a quote by the eminent Dr. Craig A. Evans. I awoke the next morning to a very sweet email that made me cringe.
It said, "Hello Pastor Bo, Thank you for citing Dr. Craig A. Evans in your recent blog post about Easter.
As it happens, Professor Evans is the John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas, and has never been employed in Kentucky. Would you be willing to update the reference in your post?
Thank you very much and Happy Easter!"
I. Hate. Making. Mistakes.
I especially hate making mistakes about someone who is ubiquitous on YouTube, has written scores of books, regularly appears in documentaries, TV and radio interviews, lectures extensively and participates in archaeological digs and Holy Land tours.
So now I have a voice in my head muttering accusingly, "Nice job, preacher; try slamming your head in a car door next time. It will not give you anywhere near as bad of a headache as this."
Thank you so much to Mrs. Carrie Lynn Evans for bringing this to my attention, and mea culpa.
Hebrews 6:10 says, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister." It comforts me immeasurably to know that the God I serve is much better at keeping track of what we do for his name than we are. In fact, he is perfect at it.
Some years ago, I had another momentary episode of forgetfulness on someone's skill set and qualifications. We were building a bathroom onto the back of our old church. A gentleman had recently become a member of the church and showed up to help me that day. When he arrived, I was on a small ladder wiring up some fluorescent lights. He asked what he could do, so I put him to cutting and installing vinyl tiles around the new toilet.
Several minutes later, wires in hand, pliers in mouth, something shocking hit me. Not electricity; on that particular day I was actually being smart enough not to wire on a live circuit. No, what hit me was a memory of something the gentleman mentioned to me when he first arrived at church.
I took the pliers out of my mouth and asked, "Brother Terry, what exactly is it that you said you do for a living?"
He grinned up at me and said, "I am a licensed electrician "
Seconds later he was wiring the lights, and I was putting tiles around the toilet.
I was amazed at his humility, but also, again, embarrassed at my mistake. But it is episodes just like this that make me eternally grateful that I, and every other believer, have a flawless resumé.
Any honest person feels a bit negative when his or her accomplishments are not properly recognized and remembered. This is true even of a humble child of God. The humble apostle Paul defended his apostleship, and the meekest of all men, Moses, defended his leadership.
But when we get to heaven, we will find that not one good thing we have ever done for God, not one, will have been lost along the way. Matthew 10:42 says, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
Just a cup of water given in his name? It will be remembered. And so will every time you handed out a gospel tract, or sacrificially supported a missionary, or put a pair of socks on a homeless person, or prayed through the midnight hours for a hurting friend, or stood for righteousness in the public arena, or visited the local jail with the message of redemption.
If you are a born-again child of God, you are building a resumé in heaven. And the Heavenly Times will have it all recorded perfectly.
Bo Wagner is pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, N.C., a widely traveled evangelist and the author of several books available on Amazon and at www.wordofhismouth.com. Email him at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.