I
have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
—2
Timothy 4:7, NLT
Faithful. If one word could
summarize my father, that would be it. Through all the years of his life, he was
faithful to God, his family, and anyone the Lord sent His way. If he made a
commitment, the only thing that might keep that commitment from being honored,
would be a circumstance beyond his control. His word was his oath. He was
honest with everyone. There really was no guile in him. He had no ulterior
motive in his words or actions. Of course, he was not perfect. None of us are. But
he had a quality of life which was a result of his faith. When you met Bud
Hampton, you met a man who was unforgettable.
In Galatians 5:22-23,
Paul writes of the fruit of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. My father always loved
beyond measure—taking care of not only his family, but so many others in his
life. Joy was deeply ingrained in him. It was not based on circumstance, but on
his faith. When faced with a trial or a problem, he found peace in knowing and planning
options from which he might choose. My father was the epitome of patience. He
rarely got hurried or flustered over anything. He was always a calming influence—not
only to his family, but to most people he knew. He was kind and thoughtful with
family, friend, or stranger. Filled with God’s goodness, he remained a
gentleman all his life. And that is
exactly what he was—a gentle man who was faithful to a fault. Once committed,
he not only remained committed, but also exhibited a self-control that reached
beyond his own life with its influence. My father lived the fruit of the God’s Spirit.
Rising above every hurdle
life afforded, he has now fought the good fight and run a winning race. The
prize awaits him—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
bestows (2 Timothy 4:8). Faithful in this life to the Master who brought him
life, the Master has remained faithful to him and bestowed upon him life in
heaven. He is now no longer a bud, but a lovely bloom in the Master’s bouquet.
Copyright © 2018 Lynn
Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com
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