It’s About Who You Know

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

Dear Kids,

It is always a thrill to receive opportunities that most others will not get. This does not often happen because of who a person is, but more likely because of whom the person knows.

In past years our family has had the privilege of meeting a couple of celebrities. When Luke was a little boy we were honored with the opportunity to have breakfast with the long-time country comedic storyteller, Jerry Clower. Our favorite memory of this now-deceased country comedy legend was when we first met him. Dad asked two-year-old Luke if he knew who the large, jolly man was, and Luke immediately replied in his childlike way, “Je – wee Kwower.” Jerry looked Luke in the eye, and with the Southern drawl he was well known for replied, “Well, ain’t you something!”

I’d love to say that Jerry searched the phone book to look up the Sheridan family and ask us to have lunch with him, but that isn’t how it happened. We had an audience with him only because Grandpa Sheridan was on the Greene County Fairboard and Jerry was the featured show that year. Grandpa was scheduled to pick him up from the airport and make sure he got fed. We got invited not because of who we were, but because of who we knew. No other reason was sufficient.

Those who want to know God are not able to approach Him on their own terms either. There is only one way to come into His presence. It is not because we have done lots of good things. It’s not because of what country we are from or how rich we are. It is not because of our family connections or influential position.

The only way to have access to the Almighty King of Heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only mediator between God and men. He gave Himself as a ransom for all, and anyone who comes to know Him as his Savior can then boldly enter the throne room of grace. There is no other way. It has nothing to do with who you are, but only to do with Whom you know.

Jesus explained this clearly to His disciples in John 14:6 when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

It is highly unlikely that our family will have the opportunity to meet many more famous people. And if we do it will not be because we are extra special people but only because we happen to have a good contact person. But I am thrilled to say that we and anyone else can have constant contact with the highest and most important Person there is – the God of the universe. But it is not because of who we are; it’s only because of Who we know: the Lord Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man.

Love,

Mama

I remember well the time we met country comedian Jerry Clower!