VICTORY IN JESUS

by JERRY BLACKERBY

“Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!”

Those words rang out sweet and clear in that beautiful soprano voice of my mother as she played on the old upright piano. Sometimes she began with “In The Garden” when she needed to meditate. She played other songs, including a version of “Rock of Ages” that sounded like chimes instead of a piano. Her favorite, which she played more than any other, was “Victory In Jesus;” a way she could praise the Lord and thank Him for saving her soul.

Mom accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was a young teenager. She took piano lessons, but only wanted to play church hymns. She became an excellent pianist playing hymns. She became the pianist and a Sunday School teacher at their little country church while still a teenager. She was always ready to stand up and witness for her Lord and Savior. Mom married Dad just before her 18^th birthday. Mom’s witness caused Dad to realize he was not saved and led him to the Lord after they were married.

A couple of years after he was saved, Dad began to feel that God was calling him to preach. Dad told Mom, “I am a new Christian. I don’t know enough to preach. I didn’t finish high school. I don’t have enough education to get up and speak in front of others. I can’t preach!”

Mom calmly told Dad, “If the Lord wants you to preach, He will provide the message. He will give you the words. You can preach!” Dad didn’t think so.

Dad worked at multiple jobs to provide for us. Many times he would be working and could not go to church, but we never missed. Mom always took us. She usually played the piano during the service. Later, I would hear Mom telling Dad everything the preacher said.

Mom made sure that each of her children was grounded in the Bible. She helped us to find Jesus as our Savior and learn the teachings of the Bible. A noisy thunderstorm terrified me when I was only two or three. Mom sat down in her rocker with me on her lap and began teaching me to recite the 23^rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd.” I was nine years old the night she helped me with the “Sinners’ Prayer,” when I asked Jesus into my heart.

Mom knew her Bible. She was the daughter of a deacon and the granddaughter of a minister. She was a descendent of many generations of Baptist ministers. She knew and loved the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, her Savior. Many times Dad would ask Mom what some passage in the Bible meant. Mom always explained in terms that Dad understood. Mom was teaching Dad the Bible and helping prepare him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For almost 20 years Dad fought the call to preach. Finally, he surrendered to preach just before his 40^th birthday. Dad began practicing sermons on Mom. Before long Dad was preaching occasionally at our church or filling in at other churches. Mom had taught him well. I could hear her guidance in many of Dad’s sermons. After a couple of years, Dad accepted the call to pastor a small rural Baptist church.

When Dad began to pastor churches, Mom helped any way she could. She nearly always played the piano and taught Sunday School and Bible classes. Mom was always ready to witness for the Lord, anytime and anywhere.

Throughout the years, we could still hear Mom playing the piano and singing. I could always recognize her distinctive piano playing style and her soprano voice, especially when it would ring out with the words, “He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.”

Dad went home to be with the Lord when Mom was 80. She continued to witness for Jesus at every opportunity. Arthritis prevented her from playing the piano, but she still sang her favorite songs praising the Lord. Alzheimer’s disease took its toll and she was not lucid much of the time. But when her mind was clear, she was a ready and willing witness for her Savior, Jesus Christ.

At 89, Mom left this world to be with her Savior and her beloved husband, my father. The minister at Mom’s memorial service compared Mom to Phoebe in Romans chapter 16, verses 1 and 2. At Mom’s memorial service, we sang, “And some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory.”