Good Night, Daddy!

I have always loved Thursdays. Thursday is the promise of Friday – another day closer to the weekend.This day was always special for another reason, too. When I was growing up, my family would gather on Thursday nights around the television set. Mom would toast cinnamon rounds (something similar to a pop tart) and we would snuggle on the couch to watch the next episode of The Waltons. How I loved this country family! They cared for each other and persevered through difficult situations brought on by a large brood living during the Great Depression. I admired Mama and Daddy as well as Grandma & Grandpa for their unconditional and sacrificial love for their children and for their neighbors. And what young girl couldn’t help but fall in love with John-Boy?

This week the world said, “Good Night” for the last time to Ralph Waite who played John Walton, Sr, or Daddy, to his seven children, on this beloved television series. I couldn’t help but feel a loss as I  reminisced about my fond childhood memories. As I now ponder John Walton more fully, I recognize, with deeper sadness, some of his spiritual misconceptions. Daddy tried to be a good person though he rarely went to church with Mama or the rest of the family. Looking back I remember his reasoning his relationship with God away with words that many say today. “I am a good person.” “I worship God my own way.” “God understands.” “There are many ways to God.”  Sadly, though I admire the character of John Walton as a father figure and upstanding citizen, he did not appear to understand God’s plan of salvation. Today’s verse makes it clear that it is by grace we are saved, through faith. It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He has saved us. No one can boast that he is good enough to get to heaven because there is none righteous – no, not one. Salvation is a gift of God that must be taken by faith and faith alone. I am afraid that John Walton, though a very good person, had misplaced his trust.

What are you trusting in to get you to heaven? Is it your good works? Do not be deceived. There is nothing you can do to gain God’s approval but accept His gift of salvation by faith – that is the only way!

For the last time the world hears the familiar farewell echo down the hallway of an old house on Walton’s Mountain, “Good Night, Daddy.” Put your trust in Jesus and when you awake from the slumber of death your first greeting will be, “Dear Kids, Jesus!”

Love,

Mama