Legacy: James Albert Decker (11)

Remembrances by James J. Decker

24 June 2012

Conclusion

Papa introduced himself to my future mother-in-law this way: “I’m a Baptist, but I love to dance.”

When asked if he could play an instrument, what would he have played, and why?  “You’ve got to be kidding!  Tone-deaf people don’t play instruments!”

God gave Papa strong legs to run, and only when they gave out, did the Lord take him home. 

Papa was heaven-focused, right up to the end, evidenced by the book he was reading and re-reading: Heaven Is for Real. 

Now he’s there, with Jesus, and has new legs, a new voice, and new dance moves.

Papa didn’t like funerals. He intensely hated death. But even more, he hated to lose the opportunity to tell anyone about Jesus.

Jesus loves me, my family, Papa, Nana.  And Jesus loves you. 

Our human nature does us a disservice. We give ranks to the wrong things we do.  But with Jesus, sin is sin, no matter what it is. But here is the thing, no matter how “high-ranking” our sin is, it is not enough to disqualify us from his love.

Sin separates us from knowing Jesus. And we’ve all done it (Romans 3:23). And the consequences are dire - forever separated from God (Romans 6:23). 

                
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus loves you and me, his creations. And he went to drastic measures to reunite us.

So now, if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

I know that any of us that have spoken, myself, would love to tell you more, and walk you through these steps. And my grandfather, who loves Jesus more so now than ever before, would be ecstatic that you would begin this new life.