Jerry Whitehead has died. He was only 60, it was sudden and unexpected. For those of you who don't know him, Mr. Whitehead was the Sheriff of Union County, where I grew up. Not only was he the sheriff, he had been the sheriff since 1985. For 28 years he had been the top law enforcement officer of our county. He was a good man, friendly and kind. He coached me in Little League baseball. The people of the county were comfortable knowing that Mr. Whitehead was looking out for things. I imagine that there are people in their early forties who don't remember a time when Jerry Whitehead wasn't the sheriff. They relied on him.
And now he is gone.
It just goes to show that we can't rely on anyone in this world. Some people we trust let us down because they aren't the people we thought they were. Even the people of the highest integrity, however, can't be relied upon to always be there, because one day they will be gone, just like Jerry Whitehead. Everyone gets old and too weak to keep up their previous pace. Everyone we look up to will eventually die and leave us holding the bag with others looking up to us. And then we, too, will be gone.
In this ephemeral world, however, there is one thing I can rely on: Luke 21:33 "[Jesus said] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." I can rely on the teachings found in the Bible. I can trust on His word to lead my life. I can count on the promises recorded therein. Because of His recorded Word, I can know my God and what He expects of me. I can know of the great salvation He has wrought for me and what my responsibilities are regarding that salvation. Despite the changes of public opinion and popularity, His Word never changes. I can base my life on it and I can be secure.
Mat 7:24-25 "Every one therefore that hears these words of mine, and does them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock."
Lucas Ward