Based on a true story…

Randy Willis

His Arch Foe held a grand celebration after mocking him all day. He had breathed his last. His enemy had won. His claims were not valid.

The party continued until very early on the third day. The celebration ended when news spread throughout the land he was alive.

How could this be? This celebration would last not a mere three days but for eternity, as God’s foretold promise came true. It would change the world and be known as Resurrection Sunday or Easter. The world would never be the same.

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

“As a young boy, attending church was as exciting as watching paint dry,” my Grandpa Rand Willis said.

Based on a true story by my Grandfather and namesake Randall Lee “Rand” Willis

Rand preferred hearing his Father speak of the War of Northern Aggression as a boy. He would rather listen to that than the best sermons. But the subject on this day was of a far greater rebellion than the South from the North. It was about slavery and human bondage—bondage to sin.

It began in Heaven, of all places. Over 600,000 died in this fight for freedom during the Civil War. Billions will die as a result of slavery to sin. Freedom from the penalty of sin comes at the highest cost. It is the cost of God’s Son nailed to a tree—Calvary’s Cross. The Just for the unjust, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the sinless Lamb of God for the sinner.

Randall Lee “Rand” Willis Narrative. My namesake and Grandpa.

April 15, 1900, Amiable Baptist Church Easter Sunday near our home on Barber Creek and Longleaf, Louisiana (Babb’s Bridge then).

“Father taught me much about life and being a cowman,” Rand often said. “He encouraged me to write it down on the Big Chief writing tablets he’d bought me.”

“Do it so those who come after us might not make the same mistakes,” Daddy said.

“I heard tell the crappie were biting down on Cocodrie Lake. But, this being Easter, they’d have to wait to jump into my boat. Our Dominique rooster’s crowing reminded me I should start loading the buggy for church. I was genuinely excited, for Father had been asked to speak that day at Amiable Baptist Church. Father was frail but up to the task. There would be a vast supper on the grounds after church.

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

” I had an idea to make the day more fun for us youngins. I told Mama we should have Easter eggs. A friend of mine from Spring Hill Academy told me all about ’em.

“When my folks lived in Germany, they decorated eggs at Easter,” my friend said.

Mama replied, “That will never catch on here. The hens would revolt, and me, too.”

“Mama, they hid them, too.”

She looked puzzled and asked, “Why in the dickens would they do that? Were they that ugly?”

“Not to worry, Mama, a rabbit then helps them find the eggs.”

“Son, I’m going down to that school tomorrow to see if they’ve been into the cooking sherry.”

I quickly changed the conversation. “Mama, what did you bake for the supper on the grounds?”

“Apple pie, of course. And, your father has butchered a hog, we’re taking a smoked ham from our smokehouse, too. You know, son, Baptists love to eat. Some I know are digging their grave with a fork. Now, there is a sermon you will never hear in these piney woods.”

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

Mama added, “You know your Grandpa Daniel Willis, Sr. was the pastor at Amiable Baptist Church for many years. He died a year and a week to the day after you were born. He took after his Grandfather, Joseph Willis.

Daniel Hubbard Willis Sr. planted more churches than his grandfather, Joseph Willis. “He was the best man I ever knew,” Mama said of her father-in-law. “His words of wisdom from the Book gave me strength. They helped me go on after the deaths of your brother David Eugene.”

“As our buggy rolled down the red dirt road, I saw the church’s steeple pointing toward Heaven. It would forever remind me of Father’s words that day. As the folks gathered, Father arose and slowly walked to the front of the crowd. My eldest brother Elwa held his arm to steady him.

“Father began with a frail voice, but it became stronger as he spoke.

“Now, friends, as you know, I’m no preacher. But, I’ve been asked to speak a few words of my father and namesake. He is buried a few yards from here.

“But, then again, he’s not there. Now, some of ya might be thinking that’s not true. You might say, I was at his funeral. Others of you saw him in his open casket. A few of you helped lower his pine box in the ground and shoveled dirt on it.

“I can only explain why I believe that miracle by using my father’s own words. He often spoke about the loss of a Country Preacher. If you don’t mind, I’ll read them.”

The Country Preacher

“I staked my future on him. I trusted in him. But now he was extinguished like a flickering candle in the wind. The young Country Preacher’s enemies, and there were many, had won.

“Why should I trust him? He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never commanded an army. He never owned a home. He never went to college. He never traveled more than a hundred miles from where he was born.

“He was rejected by the religious folk of the day. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. One friend denied him. Another betrayed him. Few understood him. Many even hated him.

“He was betrayed for a few coins and turned over to his enemies. He experienced the mockery of a trial. He was beaten. His beard was plucked out, and he was spit upon. A razor-sharp crown of thorns was pressed into his head.

“Afterward, he was nailed to two rugged pieces of wood. This cross was rightfully prepared for a notorious criminal named Barabbas. The Country Preacher was lifted on the tree in agony between two thieves. His executors gambled for his only possession—his cloak.

“His blood flowed down the cross into the ground. By then, most of his friends had abandoned him. When he died, he was laid in a borrowed grave.

“Then, on Sunday morning’, he rose from the dead. Nothing has ever been the same since.“

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

“Today, many doubt that story, but I don’t. Now, my friends, that’s why I know my father is not in that grave across the road. It could not hold that Country Preacher. And it cannot keep my father. It cannot hold me one day in the not-so-distant future. The Country Preacher had taken death, the grave, and even Hell captive.

“I have but three words to say. They’re the three greatest words ever spoken: ‘He is risen.”

As Father ended his words, Mother stood and began to sing, “Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior.”

We all joined in, “Up from the grave he arose; with a mighty triumph o’er his foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever, with his saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”

Yes, I was the first in line for Mama’s apple pie. But first, I accepted the truth of my father’s words from the Bible. I walked to the front of that church. I knelt and asked Jesus Christ to come into my life. I asked Him to take over and forgive my sins. For, you see, he arose for me, too, and you, too!

Suddenly, watching the paint dry was exciting to me….

“Why did I trust Him? It is not a popular thing to do. It cost me, a few friends. Why? Because Jesus shed His blood on that tree for me and you. God in flesh died for me and you.”

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯

“As we look back across 2,000 years, we examine the evidence and sum up his influence. We must conclude that all the armies that ever marched have not influenced mankind as Him. All the ships that ever sailed have not had such an impact. All the governments that ever sat have not. All the kings that ever reigned did not either.

If you, my friend, feel drawn to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, please do it now. That is the Holy Spirit speaking.

Satan will whisper wait. The Bible says today is the day of salvation in 2 Corinthians 6:2.

Satan will whisper, ” There is another way.” The Bible says there is but one way in John 6:44.

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

There is a stark warning in the Word of God in Proverbs 29:1.

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy… (Proverbs 29:1)

Say yes to Jesus today. You will never regret that decision.

Say yes to Jesus today! How do I do that?

The Bible says, “Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

If these words are how you feel in your heart, then pray:

“Heavenly Father,

I pray to You, asking for the forgiveness of my sins.

I confess with my mouth. I believe with my heart that Jesus is Your Son. He died on the cross at Calvary so that I might be forgiven.

Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I ask Jesus to come into my life as my personal Lord and Savior.

I turn from my sins and will surrender to your will throughout my life.

Your word is truth. I confess with my mouth that I am born again. I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus!

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!”

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯✯ ✯ ✯

Many today have just enough religion to inoculate them from knowing Christ. —Randy Willis

✯ ✯ ✯✯ ✯✯

Excerpted from Destiny by Randy Willis

#randywillis #aaronwillis #adamwillis #joshwillis #corbinwillis #bayleewillis #presleywillis #oliviawillis #juliettewillis #violetwillis #jessahwillis #alanawillis