THE CITY OF STEEL

We recently received update pictures of our grandsons who live just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The picture below is a view of Pittsburgh taken last Thanksgiving season. Grandpa remembers when he traveled from Brooklyn, New York to Tarkio College, Missouri. Traveling the New Jersey Turnpike to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which ended at Pittsburgh, we traveled to and through Indianapolis, which was best traveled at midnight (hardly any traffic at that time).
Pittsburgh, the City of Steel, went through many changes. Like the ‘Steelers’ the city had its ups and downs, but was forever favored by its inhabitants. New York City, with its five Boroughs, was easy to travel with its streets running east and west, north and south. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, had its own of helping you get to where you were supposed to go. All you needed to do was follow the Orange or Blue, etc. markers, which was a great help. We still like to visit Pittsburgh.
But we have a greater reason to visit, as you can see in the picture of Pittsburgh: our grandsons, (clockwise) Andrew, Titus, Matthew and Joshua (of Philip and Michelle LaMay). Along with our grandchildren in Iowa (pictured on previous Blog), we have our own city, made up of children and children’s children, of extended family ties, etc. The Lord has blessed us with His grace and love as we not only praise him for this generation, but the generations to come.
Our “City” or “Household of Faith” is better measured by the Great and Everlasting City of our Triune God. For it is in that context that our homes are most blessed and unified as one. The beauty of the strength greater than steel is this Great City: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion … the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:1-2). This is the City which is present in the world in every generation, the City or Kingdom of King Jesus, to whom we owe our allegiance. We come, therefore, “unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the great assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (Hebrews 12:22-24). This is the City that is made of the steel of heaven, whose God is our salvation, comfort, and strength.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Grandpa has on his office wall three pictures. The top picture is of the Brooklyn Dodgers when they won the 1952 National Championship. The picture below is a picture of the J.C. Penney Soft Ball Team of the 50’s on which Grandpa played. Uniting the two pictures is of the Brooklyn Bridge which was part of his playground. Interestingly the J.C. Penney team of eleven men was dressed accordingly with white shirts and ties.
This brings Grandpa to his generation, and to the generation to follow. The game this past month was T-Ball. The two pictures show our grandchildren. They take seriously their participation, and with bat in hand, the approach the plate with the determination to hit it and move to first base and beyond. Grandpa wishes he could make it to first base as fast. Micah and Emma Ruth (parents: Rob and Dorcas Jarrard) take their turn at bat; their turn to catch the ball; their turn to obey the rules; their turn to be guided by the coach. It is also their turn to be prayed for, to hear the Word of God, to be guided by the Christ who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” that they may also know the joy of so great a salvation. Remember, the Word of God, the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, not only opens our hearts to our Savior, nourishing our souls in Christ, but also prepares us to pass it on to the next generation, and to the next, and next…; to the praise of our Father, our Savior, and our Teacher.
Past memories are great when they are united with the generation of today. Today’s generation should be seen in the blessings (or curses) it gives to the generations to come. King David praises the Lord, saying, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts” (Psa. 145:3-4). That which is unsearchable has been revealed by our Father in heaven. That which has been revealed to one generation is to be passed on to another generation. Our testimony is this, that “We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (Psa. 78:4). Joel speaks of the word of the Lord that is to be spoken to his generation, “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” (Joel 1:2). Whether we are in the home, or in the workplace, or in the halls of Congress, or in the fellowship of believers in worship and study, if we are content without thought to the generations that follow, the generations to follow will pay the price of our self-righteousness. That which is preached from the pulpit ought to feed the sheep of God’s pasture. Therefore, for a congregation to put up with false or poor preaching with the hope that things will turn around, become responsible for the pitiable feed that is passed on to the next generation. May each generation hear the word of their Almighty Lord: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise” (Isa. 43:21).