Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

I’ve seen it a thousand times or so. A respected Gospel Preacher or teacher will die and someone will comment that their generation is going away so quickly. Well, that’s not fully true. Preachers die every month, have for years, and until the Lord returns, we will continue to.

It happened again last week. At least three highly visible preachers died on the same day. I’ve seen it and understand it. Several posted the moving line from the old George Jones song: “Who’s going to fill their shoes.” And we can all wonder but if we believe no one will we are off base.

Here’s the thing. On its surface that is a very sweet sentiment, but it can lead to discouragement, frustration, and make you want to toss in the towel. If the best has already been and has died then why should I try at all? If I could never make the impact, live up to, be effective as Brother X, then let’s put in his tapes, their tapes, each week and move on. I loved VP Black, Gus Nichols, Bobby Duncan, Jim Bill McInteer, George Bailey, Willard Collins, Ira North, of course dad, and the list of good men I’ve respected and miss here could fill the page. Here’s the thing. We serve the Lord in a limited time and in our time. The books of David Lipscomb no longer move an audience as they did in the mid-1800’s. Many of the illustrations of Marshall Keeble would have to be updated to impact today’s audiences. The syntax of N.B. Hardeman or Batsell Barrett Baxter would be too stilted for many of today’s listeners. I find it hard to imagine how Alexander Campbell would navigate social media. 

The words Charles Wesley wrote in 1762 as he studied Leviticus 8 strike a deep emotional chord with me and make me reflect on my time and purpose: “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill: Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage To do my Master’s will!”

No, you’ll never be BC Goodpasture, but God doesn’t need you to be. BC served his time well, you serve in this time and place and when you are gone God will raise up others who will faithfully and lovingly do His work. Who’s gonna fill their shoes? I do not say this with the slightest tinge of arrogance, but you will, and I will as we serve our present age.

And one more thing. We don’t lose them. We gained another soul in heaven.