Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday May 21, 2009

I received a great note from my friend of many years, Dr. Tom Wallace in response to Tuesday's article, "When Life Throws The Kitchen Sink At You." Doc told me of a conversation he had with a mutual friend who passed on several years ago with cancer.

I am sharing the note in its entirety so that you may catch a glimpse of the courage with which Curtis Hutson faced death and maintained faith until his last breath. Bible students know according to 1Corinthians 13 faith is no longer needed after the last earthly breath. Here is the note from Dr. Wallace:

Larry,

I read your articles everyday and gain something every time. I may have shared with you what Curtis Hutson said. His statement to me was a pinnacle of truth and growth. He said, "I have learned that I am the only one who can mess up my day." He further said, "I am not going to allow people, or money, or weather, or my health to mess up my day." He was dying of cancer when he made the statement and was dead three weeks later. Sounds like Paul in Philippians 4:11.

Tom

Curtis Hutson was one of the most unusual men I ever met. He was a mail carrier, had a high school education, no college, a Primitive Baptist and through reading a paper, "The Sword of The Lord" came to a personal knowledge of Christ. He started preaching immediately and founded and built one of the early mega churches. He became the editor of The Sword and then, cancer. He was a shining star as to what the Lord will do with a person who is totally committed to Christ. Curtis influenced several million people over the course of his life.

As Tom points out, Curtis took responsibility for making the proper response to the events of his life. Response, that's what responsibility is all about. To give in to the tough things of life is simply an un-Christlike response, and an attempt, knowingly or unwitting, to shift control to someone or something else. Years ago I listened as Dr. Wallace preached to the mostly peasants in our church that no one can steal your joy, only you have the power to give it up and we must never do such a thing. Good preaching then and good and needed preaching now. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11:

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.

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