You never know!

Many years ago, in a January, my father died and so the funeral service was arranged at the church where our family attended. At the church was the church secretary who, I’m sure, had been in that post for well over two hundred years, or so it seemed! He was lovely man, a bit reserved, but always knew what was happening in the church’s life. He worked in a bank and had been all his working life, a very capable and faithful man both in his working life and in his church life.
 
Not only was he the church secretary, he also had the grand title of organist and choir master. A talented organist who used his gift to enhance the worship and faithfully lead the choir. Every Friday night was choir practice and without fail he was always there, music ready and prepared for the sopranos, altos, tenors and bass singers, such was his integrity. I guess the lesson I learnt from him was his honest faithfulness. He had a quiet faith and was always behind the organ pipes playing to God’s glory.
 
But you never know how, when or where you are witnessing to people about the love of God. You may not be giving a great speech or quoting long passages from the Bible, but just being you may be the witness that speaks volumes about your living experience of God’s love.
 
You see, at the funeral service of my dad, there was obviously sadness and a quiet sombre atmosphere as the coffin was brought up the porch steps and into the church. It was all, quite rightly, very dignified and I always remember the undertaker walking backwards directing the pall bearers and was fascinated how he knew where he was going, even negotiating some small steps.
 
The point of all this is to share with you the witness of that old organist. He had prepared the music for the hymns, but also the music as the coffin came into the church. As the coffin arrived the stillness was broken by the organ bursting out at full blast with the Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord has risen today, Hallelujah!”
 
What a witness that was to me and I hope to others, that death is not the end, but for those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour, it is the beginning. I don’t think that the organist realized what a witness that was to me, not a sermon or a Bible study, but him, if you like, just doing his job.
 
You never know when YOU may be witnessing to the Lord by just being you. Do I hear an Amen?