Faithful follower
Last week I attended the services for a long time Dallas friend and fellow believer. Walt Byerly trusted Jesus for salvation as an adult. He fell in love with the Lord, his word, and served him faithfully all the days of his life. He was instrumental in developing Sky Ranches, retiring after forty plus years as Chairman Emeritus. It was said that his initial vision was to have 1,000 young people come to the camp and hear the gospel each year. The year before Covid hit, 70,000 youth and adults attended. He was committed to walking a mile each day without missing for any reason for several decades. Most importantly, he was praying for hundreds of people during that time. You might’ve been one of them; I was.
God’s word
Walt was a man who kept God’s word. It was his heartbeat. He discipled men over the years and was instrumental in bringing many to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The power of salvation is in God’s word. John also wrote these words of Jesus. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (5.24).
Why the word? Because it speaks of Jesus who is the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1.1). Walt never tasted death. He now lives in the presence of the Living Word. How about you? Is the word precious to you and are you keeping it; more importantly, is Jesus, the Word, your eternal hope of glory? Believe me, it’s the gospel!!
