Letters From Grandpa #49

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 49

Dearest Grandchild,

Today’s letter involves a Biblical key to your happiness. The Bible teaches: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation” (James 1:12 KJV) If you want to be happy and blessed, don’t yield to temptation!

Just recently we had a Sunday evening program featuring a rescue mission for wayward women. The founder was weeping as she told of killing her best friend while driving under the influence. She also cried because she lost custody of her two children while doing drugs and living on the street. She has since become a Christian and is now in the process of becoming happy and rescuing others from the evil life style she once embraced.

Three young women in her recovery program shared their testimonies. All of them were weeping. One young mother with four children confessed to repeatedly lying to her children. She would promise them that she would come right back, but would sometimes be gone for weeks. She too lost the custody of her children. The others too told their sad stories of addictions, immorality, prison, and exposure to STDs.

One thing they had in common was that they did NOT endure temptation. They thought that by yielding to temptation they would be happy. They thought that doing drugs and sleeping around would bring fulfillment. It did not! God doesn’t lie! The Bible tells you the truth. You will only be “blessed” and truly “happy” when you do not yield to temptation. How simple! How profound!

Dr. Wayne Bigelow has been a friend of our family for over 50 years. He lived in Turlock, California when we lived in San Jose. At any rate, the Ozark Christian College invited him to Joplin to speak to the students on campus. His message was: “The Road of No Regrets”. Dr. Bigelow told of the first three patients he treated while a young intern in San Francisco. He had just passed his exams and had a head full of current medical knowledge. He had the latest cutting edge technology at his disposal and millions of dollars worth of diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.

SADLY, ALL THREE OF HIS PATIENTS DIED!

This fact made a profound impression on the mind of this young doctor. The first patient died of lung cancer as the result of smoking. The second died of a sexually transmitted disease as the result of a promiscuous life style. The third was an alcoholic and died of sclerosis of the liver.

Note that all of these illnesses were self inflicted. All of these illness could have been avoided if only they had not yielded to temptation. Every patient died “regretting” doing what they did. That’s why Dr. Bigelow recommended the Road of No Regrets.

One of my aunts was a chain smoker. She would often laugh while lighting up a cigarette and say: “Well, here’s another nail in my coffin”. As she neared the end she finally confessed to regretting her decision to smoke. When she died she was no longer laughing.

One of the most memorable weddings I performed was many years ago at the Fairview church in Carthage. The groom was in a wheel chair and had to be lifted to the platform by his groomsmen. He had been an outstanding athlete in High School but got drunk on graduation night. He will regret that decision for the rest of his life. While driving under the influence he wrecked his car, broke his neck, and is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Here is a short video that I hope you will take time to watch:

https://www.facebook.com/boyce.mouton/posts/1123616257666100

With the help of God, you don’t have to live a life of regrets. Remember - “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation”.

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce