The Example

Joe Van mugs for the camera with Carolyn, the love of his life.

     Joe Van Barnes was one of the greats. When our church said good bye to him a few weeks ago it was apparent that, for a man relatively small in stature, he sure left some big shoes to fill.
     When I think about Joe, a list of adjectives come to mind:
     Southern gentleman, loving dad, faithful husband, deacon, servant, disciple maker, TV repairman, grandfather, father-in-law and patriarch all apply. But if I had to choose just one word to describe him, it would be “example.”
     Joe was the best example I know of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
     He spent his adult life serving God, whether as worship-leader, usher, deacon or evangelist. When he passed away, he left a legacy that any God-fearing man should hope to pursue, but, truth be told, most would doubt they could follow. In the long line of men attempting a life that earns the respect of their peers, Joe stood at the front.
     There are probably a hundred stories about Joe’s example, particularly his passion for sharing his Christian testimony and leading others to become followers of Jesus. It didn’t matter whether you were at the breakfast table or on the golf course, if Joe sensed that a man’s heart was open, he would talk about his faith and pray with him. I imagine there’s also a long line of Christians who can point to Joe Van as the man who introduced them to their Savior.
     The Sunday after he passed, my pastor, Joe Van’s son-in-law, told a story that illustrates, perhaps better than any other, the dedication, commitment and deep, abiding faith of Joe Van Barnes:
     As his health declined, Joe Van no longer drove the white truck that he owned. So, his daughter, Beverly, began driving it. One day, Bev noticed there was a cassette tape in the player installed in the dash of her dad’s old truck. She pushed it in to find out what Joe had been listening to. Now, Joe loved hymns and harmony, so it wouldn’t have been surprising to find a Southern Gospel gem–maybe “Lighthouse” or “Beulah Land,” but Joe wasn’t listening to music. He was listening to a voice explain how to tell others about Jesus using an outline called FAITH.
     Forgiveness – We all need forgiveness.
     Available – Forgiveness is available to everyone through Jesus.
     Impossible – It is impossible for us to get to heaven on our own.
     Turn – When we receive forgiveness, we also turn to pursue God.
     Heaven – When we give our hearts to God, we receive the guarantee of eternal life in heaven.
     Joe had lived most of his life leading others in the sinner’s prayer, as they used to say. And after all those years, he was still studying, still preparing for the opportunity to tell one more person about his faith in Jesus.
     THAT is an example to follow.
     When Paul wrote to Titus about the roles in the church, he challenged the older men to be an example to the younger men. Reading it today, it sounds a good bit like Joe Van:
     Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. … Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
     Like I said, Joe Van Barnes was an example.