Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS

Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.

Not long ago there was a very popular song about a young laxly named Annie, who had moved out of the house where she had been living. When her lover went to call upon her he was told, "Annie doesn't live here any more."

Then during the last political campaign one of the candidates stated that if he were elected governor he was going to place a sign in front of the executive mansion—"Happy (Gov. Chandler) doesn't live here any more."

When Walter's body lay sleeping in death in my home I thought, as I stood by his open casket and gazed upon his cold face, of Paul's description of death as he wrote to the Corinthian brethren—

The teaching of this scripture, with the blessing and comfort it brought to my heart, found expression as I kept murmuring to myself, "Walter doesn't live here any more." He had moved out of his house of dust at the command of his Lord. The house was empty. He had gone. He was my brother in the flesh. He was more—he was my son in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since the day he was born his life and my life had been so interwoven that it seemed to me when he moved out of his earthly house part of my own heart was gone too. He was dear and precious to me.

Well do I remember the day he was born. It was in Louisville, Kentucky, June 28, 1902. I was the oldest living child of

my parents and was past twelve years of age. In our home a new baby was looked upon with wonder and amazement even if there were fourteen of us.

When Walter was born he was afflicted with a harelip. Naturally this one thing stands out vividly in my memories of his birth. Since he died I have gone over in my mind how he grew as a boy—stout, hardy, healthy. When he was fourteen years old he went to the hospital and had the harelip corrected.

He received his elementary education in the Louisville public schools. After the death of our father in 1919, he moved with our mother to Lexington, and was graduated from the Lexington High School.

It was about this time that he told me of his call to the gospel ministry. He spoke of it early one Monday morning as I was leaving home to hold a revival meeting in another city. Walter was taking me to the depot and as we drove along Main Street he turned and said, "Clarence, the Lord has called me to be a preacher." I was startled. Never before had he given any indication that he would enter the ministry. I couldn't believe it—I had always felt that when God called a man to preach that man would have gifts that would make him a successful minister of God's Word.

I had not seen any gifts I felt, would qualify Walter as a public speaker. I thought of his harelip—although it had been corrected I believed somehow it would affect his speaking. I told him he ought to be sure of a DIVINE CALL and discouraged him. I was wrong, as time has proven, for the Great Head of the church had given him rare gifts that I had not discovered, but which were to be used most effectively to make him one of the greatest soul winners.

Just as I was startled, so at prayer meeting the next Wednesday night, the brethren of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church were surprised when he publicly told them of his DI-

VINE CALL to the work of the gospel ministry and requested that they remember him in prayer.

They encouraged him and he entered the Baptist School at Campbellsville, Kentucky, and later the University of Kentucky, to better prepare himself for his God-called life's work.

As I think of his call to the ministry, I am carried back in memory to the Sunday afternoon when he was just a boy of thirteen, and I, as pastor of the Mt. Freedom Baptist Church, Wilmore, Kentucky, was holding a camp meeting at Brooklyn Bridge. For nearly two weeks I had been preaching the gospel and the Lord had given us many souls. I remember how deep the conviction had been upon many and how they had been converted and added to the church. Our hearts were burdened for others while we were praying continuously that the Lord would stretch out His hand. Among those who had been saved was Allie, our oldest daughter. Naturally, we exercised the deepest concern that Walter and my sister Johnnie, who were visiting us attending the camp meeting, might be saved. We had come to the Sunday afternoon service, but they had not yet been saved. After my sermon I gave the invitation and under the power of the Holy Spirit, my sister Johnnie stepped out followed by Walter — together professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Sin-Bearer and Savior.

Never can I forget that Sunday afternoon! A storm came up and it was while the thunder roared, the lightning flashed and the rain fell upon the tent, even coming through the canvas in spots, that the Spirit of the Living God used the Blessed Word of Truth and brought Walter to rest his soul in Christ.

It was there he was "born again" — born from above — the new life came into his heart. It was there God's effectual call

ones in Glory, but rest on the bosom of the Blessed Lord himself. There, the soul of Walter has found its resting place— its home.

"Walter doesn't live here any more." He is with the Lord. His soul has found its home and for ten thousand worlds I would not call him back from the mansions above to abide even for a brief time in his house of clay.

The second gain is—WHEN WALTER MOVED OUT OP HIS HOUSE OF CLAY HIS SPIRIT WAS MADE PERFECT. It is when a believer dies that his spirit is made perfect.

"But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general 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" (Heb. 12:22-23).

Here we find the perfected spirits. When the believer's spirit leaves his body it goes to Mt. Zion. When it attains the heavenly Jerusalem, when it enters the company of angels and the general assembly and the church of the firstborn, when it comes to God, the Judge of all, then is the spirit made perfect. While Walter lived in the flesh his spirit, as his body was marred by sin, was deformed and polluted. That isn't true today. The spirit of Walter Walker is absolutely perfect, as are all who have died in the faith of the Son of God. Walter sees, understands, and comprehends the things of God, as God sees, comprehends, and understands. To illustrate—you wonder how Walter can be contented and happy, even though he is in Heaven, when he remembers that he left a dear wife and three precious little children alone without support in a cold, bitter world. He is contented! He is happy! Because he understands as God understands and comprehends that God never makes a mistake, and sees—

"All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Walter knows that God will supply the needs of his family

either through His servants or otherwise. This is the meaning of that marvelous promise—"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Rey. 21:4). When Walter's spirit was made perfect, God wiped away all tears from his eyes.

Never have I understood and been so comforted by any scripture since I was saved, as I have by meditating upon this revealed truth—"the spirits of just men made perfect"—SINCE WALTER DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANY MORE. Walter's spirit in the flesh was imperfect, but with Christ, he is perfect. He loved his work on earth rejoicing in the victories God gave him in his churches and revival meetings. He found great joy with his wife and children. He did enjoy his fellowship with me and I know that I did with him. BUT TODAY his fellowship and communion is with perfect spirits and with God who gave the grace and the means to make the spirits of saved men perfect. PRAISE YE THE LORD.

What beauty, what love he finds in the face of Christ. How his soul must thrill at the voice of the Lord Jesus. What emotions must sweep his being as he mixes and mingles with the redeemed of all ages. He has seen Moses and talked with Abraham. He has heard the voice of the Apostle Paul and has listened to the anthems of the angels. I can see him now as once again he meets our father and mother and the loved ones "over there." Walter's spirit is perfect. In my own heart I am praising my Savior for the riches He has so richly bestowed upon him and upon us, and that "whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely."

Another gain is—THE PLACE WHERE HE DWELLS is HEAVEN. Like Abraham of old he never considered this earth his home. In his preaching, his writings, his conversation, and by his life, he pointed the way to another city just as Abraham did by "living in tents."

"By faith Abraham when he was called to go out . . . obeyed, and he went out not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob . . .

for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. . . .

"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country . . . but now they desire a better country,

that is, an Heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a City"

When Walter died, leaving behind hiss body, his spirit entered this city, whose maker and builder is God, the New Jerusalem, described in the book of Revelation—

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice (out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, arid he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. . . .

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten It, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be 110 night there.

And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it: and his servants shall serve him: