Tom Calhoun came into the office today to celebrate his 98th birthday with this family. He had a steak and pumpkin pie for dessert. He is proud to have 13 great-grandchildren.
When I asked him his favorite Bible verse, he said: “John, the verse about Jesus being the propitiation for our sins.”
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 1 John 2:1-6
Propitiation means God’s wrath is satisfied in the work of His Son Jesus. Tom is like the Gospel writer, saying to his dear great-grandchildren, we have an advocate in Heaven who has paid for our sins. When I am 98, I hope I am still treasuring such things.
