20/20 Vision for Souls!

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;” Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬.

At the time of his passing, my dad was legally blind… over the years, macular degeneration had taken its toll. Nonetheless, when it came to souls, his vision was 20/20!

My folks were charter members of Abiding Savior. From day one, God had favored this home-mission plant with growth. So much so, that my dad became concerned I might fall into the trap of complacency. A loving church family, a beautiful/functional facility, lots of people, stable finances, effective ministries, good reputation… what pastor could want or need anything more. Then, out of the blue, dad called me and said he’d like to take me on a nighttime tour of Sioux Falls. 

As we drove around the city, here’s a paraphrase of what he said… “See all those lights, Michael? Most of those houses are filled with people, who don’t know Jesus. Be a Free Lutheran pastor, with a Kingdom Vision for souls. Seek them. As God gathers them, He’ll sort them out. Preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. Press on. Don’t coast.”

In renewed conviction, we kept seeking after lost or backslidden Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals, lots of other ‘ists’, and many unchurched. In repentance and faith, the Spirit and the Word brought them to Jesus. Some returned to their church roots and some sank their roots into Abiding Savior. Each one looking forward to the day they’d be standing before the Lamb’s throne clothed in white! Dad’s 2-fold vision was passed on to me… the macular degeneration type and PTL! the vision Christ had given him for the salvation of souls! Praying for your vision.