Grandpa’s Gift, My Reward

By Randy Bailey
Feb. 5, 2010

My Mom was telling me some things about my grandfather who died before I knew him well. Her story caused me to meditate on Isaiah 59:21 (“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.”).

My grandfather lived in Meadow Bridge, West Virginia and owned several acres of land that ran from his house to a nearby highway. An evangelist came along one day and asked if he could set up his tent and hold revival for a few days on his property. Although not a born again believer, my grandfather allowed him to set up his tent and hold his services there. The first night of service, my grandfather went and sat on the concrete stairs in front of his house and he could hear the man preaching in the tent that was about 100 yards away. The evangelist said, “There is someone within the sound of my voice that is having back pain, if you will reach behind your back and lay your hand on it in faith, God is going to heal you.” My grandfather had a back pain and laid his hand on the spot that hurt and immediately the pain went away.

My grandfather was astonished and the next night went to the tent and turned his life over to Jesus. I believe that God honored my grandfather and healed him for allowing the evangelist to put his tent on his property and through the healing my grandfather became born again. As we read the opening text we see that God has made a covenant with His people. A covenant is an agreement and the Lord is faithful to keep and fulfill His word to His children.

There is a crucial statement we must understand to enjoy the blessings of God and that is He is the one who hath made the covenant with us. We did not come to the Lord with a list of conditions, He came to us and told us He would save us, He would cleanse us, He would comfort us, He would give us a peace that passes all understanding, He would never leave us, He would fight for us, He would put His Spirit in us and His words would not depart out of our mouth or the mouth of our children. My grandfather was saved, and my Dad was saved before he died; my Mom is saved and my wife and I are saved and two of our three children are living for Jesus and I believe the other one will return to the Lord.

I rejoice that my grandfather extended kindness to the ministry that day and because of his generosity, many have been saved. I hope that all who read this understands that the covenant is for the born again children of God. The sinner has the opportunity to become a recipient of the blessings of God if they enter into the relationship with Him according as it is written. He is faithful and He loves you. He paid for you with everything He had and now bids you to come into the covenant and be free from the bondage of sin.

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Randy Bailey has been writing spiritual poems/devotions for the past eight years. Randy has one wife and three sons. Richard, Ryan, and Rodney are grown and on their own while Randy and Peggy live in Georgia. Randy and Peggy attend the First United Pentecostal Church of Warner Robins. Randy has recently had his book Spiritual Snacks published, and it is available at www.Amazon.com (plug). Randy loves to throw the seed through his writings.