Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 HCSB

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”  Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  James 2:18 HCSB

I had the opportunity to go to revival at Blood River Baptist Church this week with friends and I must say I truly feel revived. The evangelists were Douglas and Melinda Davis and they did a great job of bringing God’s message. The first night I was there, I ran into a man that I had not seen in probably 30 years. He had been a friend of my dad’s and he described my dad perfectly one night after revival by saying that my dad had a huge temper, but also a heart that was much bigger.

As I began to think about my mom and my dad and our household growing up, I realized something. They obviously never got the memo about being unequally yoked, because they were like darkness and daylight, total opposites. My mother had a strong faith and dragged us to church every time the doors were open. My dad often made excuses for why he couldn’t join us as I was younger, but later when I was in my 30’s admitted that he didn’t believe that there was a heaven. He thought you died and that was it. This unsettled me because I thought that if he didn’t believe in heaven, he probably also didn’t believe in God. When he told me this, he had lost two brothers to cancer, had a baby sister who was a breast cancer survivor, but had been diagnosed with Alzheimers and also had a niece that had succumbed to cancer. So, I guess his faith was at an all time low, but he continued to do good works.

Now those who knew my mother knew that she was a kind and loving person, they knew that she had a strong faith and did many works through her church. But one thing that people said about my dad was that he would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you were in need. My mom was more discerning. She would bring you to church, share the gospel with you and even give you a hot meal, but if you came to her for money she may tell you no. Remember, I said they were total opposites.

My dad was always buying property when I was younger, but he didn’t own a huge amount of land when he passed away. Court records revealed that he had bought property from people who were about to go through foreclosure and then several years later, I guess when they got on their feet again, he would sell it back to them for what he had paid for it. He wasn’t buying land for profit, but to help keep people from losing their homes.

My mom explained to me several years before my dad got saved that he had gone in front of the church at the tender age of 8 and made a profession of faith. Now his dad was not a church going man either and when he learned of this, he said that my dad was too young to know what he was doing and wouldn’t allow him to be baptized. Mom said that this embarrassed and upset my dad and she suspected that this was why he no longer attended church.

Several years before my dad got saved, the Lord moved me to buy him a bible. He began to read the bible. His hearing was almost completely gone and he had begun reading a great deal. He would later attend a revival at our home church where he grew up and again make a profession of faith, but this time at the age of 80, he was baptized. My mom was so excited that she rededicated her life and was re-baptized.

Now our family had been praying for my dad for many years and finally on September 16, 2006, our prayers were answered.

His whole demeanor changed. That horrible temper that he once had was gone. The cussing that he used to do, stopped. He had this peace that surpassed all understanding. My parents had lived unequally yoked for 58 years, but they would live another five as two believers attending church together.

Now I’m telling you all of this to let you know that if someone you love is lost, don’t give up, keep praying for them, keep encouraging them. Ask God to guide you and let you know if there is something you can do for them to lead them to Him. Look at their heart. If they have a heart of love and compassion, there is hope.

Growing up between two people, one lost and one found had it’s interesting moments. Both were wonderful parents in their own way. There were many challenging times, however, due to my dad’s not being saved. Unfortuntely, those who are lost behave like those who are lost and that is not always good. I am sure there were times my mom was kicking herself for not adhering to that whole being unequally yoked thing.

If you have not accepted Christ as your savior, it is not too late. If you want peace in your life, turn to Him and trust in Him.

Oh, and if you are in a relationship and considering marriage, you may want to be sure that you are equally yoked. Fifty eight years is a long time to wait.

Have a great day!