“The surest thing in the world is not death and taxes, it’s death and eternity. Yet, we’re so unconcerned.”
“This life is a dressing room for eternity – THAT’S ALL IT IS!”
“Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”
“The surest thing in the world is not death and taxes, it’s death and eternity. Yet, we’re so unconcerned. What are you going to do when you get to eternity, if you can’t stick in an hour with God down here?”
— Leonard Ravenhill, 20th Century Evangelical Revivalist
On Sunday, my wife, Polly, and I, along with our oldest daughter, went to Defiance to buy supplies for upcoming home improvement projects. Afterward, we ate lunch at Sweetwater Chophouse and then drove out to Independence Dam to watch the eagles. From there, we drove along the north side of the Maumee River, crossed the river, and then drove along the south side of the river back to Defiance. We then stopped at Lowe’s to buy an electrical cord for the new freezer we would have delivered on Tuesday. Polly also bought some flower bulbs.
As we returned to our automobile, the following discussion took place:
Polly: Are you ready to go home, old man?
Bruce: I didn’t even want to get out of bed today. (I’ve had a string of bad days, I mean really, really, really bad days.)
Polly: But look at all you did today!
Bruce: In light of eternity . . .
Polly: Pfft, laugh . . .
Bruce: laugh . . .
I am sure some readers are trying to figure out what was so funny about what I said, “in light of eternity.” Those who were raised in Evangelical churches and were pastors, evangelists, missionaries, college professors, youth pastors, youth leaders, and devout, committed church members see the humor in what I said. You see, our Sunday jaunt was of no consequence. Just a short road trip to get Bruce out of the house; a nice meal with family. There was nothing that happened that had eternal import. Just another moment in time with the love of my life and my daughter.
Back in our Evangelical days, we were driven to live our lives “in light of eternity.” We devoted our lives to the ministry; to winning souls; to teaching and building up the people of God; to homeschooling our children, preparing them to be warriors for Jesus. We had little time for the mundane things of life. We would go to dirt track races in the summer and take road trips on occasion, but the rest of our time was spent with our shoulders to the plow, working the fields of the world for God. We had no time for date nights or vacations. How could we? “Life is short, Hell is real, and death is certain,” we told ourselves. “Work for the night is coming when no man can work” and “prepare to meet the Lord thy God,” the Bible told us, words that motivated us to devotedly and selflessly work day and night for Jesus.
I was particularly taken with the Apostle Paul’s devotion to the gospel. He lived for the “sake of the gospel.” I thought it was my duty and obligation to do the same. That’s why I lived in beautiful southeast Ohio and never saw the sites. That’s why I lived in San Antonio and never visited the Alamo or walked the River Walk. Oh, I preached in front of the Alamo and stood above the River Walk raining words from the Bible down upon people’s heads, but no leisurely visits with family or friends. And that’s why I lived in Arizona and never saw the Grand Canyon. How could I bother with such trivial things when souls were dying and Jesus was coming soon. Even on the rare occasions we took “vacations,” we never took a vacation just for the sake of relaxation. In the 1980s, we took a trip to Cape Cod/Boston. Sure, we visited a few sites, but I was there to preach. We took numerous trips so I could preach at a church or conference. We saw wonderful scenery and sites along the way, but our goal was always the same: to preach the gospel and challenge the saints.
Hopefully, that explains to readers why we laughed when I said, “in light of eternity.”
Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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I’m glad you and Polly can enjoy yourselves now. There is nothing wrong with enjoying simple, even silly pleasures. Life can be pretty darn hard and without these innocent, fun things, we’d all be cracking like eggs.
I’m very sorry you have had some more bad days. Today is one of my much worse days, although I suspect a good night’s sleep will make tomorrow quite a bit better. Anyway, I do hope you can get some more rest and that tomorrow is one of your better days, too.
Y’all are really, really adorable.
I love this story. I’m not that far behind you (I’m 58). I have grown to appreciate the simple things in life – a man, his wife, and his daughter. And yeah I get the reference to “in light of eternity”…probably better than most of your readers. And that Sweetwater Chophouse Place sounds like a place I must visit. My dad loved planes and I live 10 minutes from Metro Airport and 5 minutes from Willow Run Airport. I carry those memories in my heart. And no doubt you, Polly and your daughter will remember the day you went to look at the eagles. That’s really cool. The simple life is a good life. I have someone to share it with. And I’m glad you do too.
I turned 70 this past week. In light of the content of this blog, I have to say that eternity can take a seat in the waiting room while we here do our very best to occupy today. I don’t give ahoot if its Monday or Wednesday; I just care that it is! And hey you Christian out there, you ARE eternity today! The message you are told at church is bunk…The best offering any church building can give you is passed along the pews during a hymn, that pickpocket heaven-tax plate. Take a handful from that offering plate as it passes by and send it along to my friend Bruce Gerencser, still preaching from the good book after all these years…..
One of life’s most valuable lessons for me is the knowledge of how the message changes over the years! Same old stories but completely different message! Thanks for this, preacher.
Atheists are not anti-Bible: We’re pro-Bible but we would like it read openly, freely as a book of stories for the ages and not as a weapon to harm humanity. The Bible read on this blog informs rather than deforms humanity.
Way-to-go!, Bruce, for getting out of the house and poking around. And by the way, are you complying with the eternal order to report to local church probation officers whenever you leave the house so that they can warn believers that you are loose in the world, that they should stay inside in a closet lest they encounter you and are devoured by your greeting? Obey the law, Almighty. Remember the Pope is coming to this hemisphere for a visit. 😉 Apparently he wants to apologize.
My friend Democracy was coming too but won’t share the plane with the Pope and so I have to wait for her a bit longer 🙁
Y’know, I think Bruce is a preacher of humanism. I’d go to any humanistic church he had! And that church would include everyone working for the real betterment of humanity, in ways small or large. If we could get enough people fired up about helping our fellow man, maybe, just MAYBE we could stop the encroaching fascism creeping the US. Maybe.
Brian—Congratulations! Keep eternity waiting for you!
I’d forgotten all about Leonard Ravenhill. I recall he was a favorite of Keith Green’s, who was a favorite of mine. The nostalgia!
oh I do wish I had Bruce and Polly as relatives. Ugh, “eternity” what an awful concept.
Schad (Can I call you that?)—I agree. My family is dwindling and my long-ago marriage produced no heirs (to what, I don’t know). It’s tempting to “adopt” Bruce and Polly, isn’t it?
you can call me Vel, or whatever you want 🙂
Yep, it is tempting. My grandparents were all twits. I’m tempted to show up on their doorstep since when I must visit my parents in western PA, I’m fairly close.
When I read this, it reminds me of part of Conan the Barbarian (1982) where Conan needs to get into the snake cult religious service and the priestess asks, “What do you see?” and Conan mutters out in his Austrian accent, “Uh, eternity”.
Interesting side note, they modeled the snake cult’s leader after cultist Jim Jones, a fantastic villain.
Bruce and Polly, finally able to live for the day! It sounds like you had a good time together, despite your physical issues.
In Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, just blocks from last month’s subway shooting, the eponymous park crowns a hill with one of the most commanding views of New York’s harbor and skyline—and the Statue of Liberty—to be found.
I return to it, occasionally and in my dreams. My maternal grandparents brought me there, on misty mornings, among spring blooms and in autumn twilight.
We usually took the train—yes, the one in the news—there. I loved the train ride almost as much as the park. My grandfather took me on other train rides, some to places outside the city. My mother and I talked about those rides and park visits nearly to the end of my life.
Those are scenes from my “eternity.” Whatever yours is, embrace it and live it now.
Bruce, I’m sad to hear that your health issues kicked up and gave you a bad week. A real bummer. I’m happy you went for an outing that lasted all day. Your mentioning the eagles gathering at the dam is a reminder to make sure the eagles are protected properly,as the national bird. They’re making quite a comeback,as is the condor, in a program run by a Northern California Indian tribe I hope you’ll go out as frequently as possible,as good times are good for health.
Pardon a Sufi’s silly musing, but I see your simple events, amongst hard days, as glimpses of eternity. This type of eternity comes from the little moments shared with each other, and it stays with people, especially your family in this case. In other words, those moments of peace and happiness are worth more than promised celestial gold. I’m glad you and Polly had a chance to make something of an ordinary day!