“Be a man son, and Preach”

“I want to come home,” the teenager desperately asserted to his father over the phone. With fatherly patience, the man replied, “I know son, but you’ve committed to being there all week, so you’ve got to stay.” With unsettled emotion in his voice the young man plead with his parent, “but dad – you don’t understand, I want to come home now!” Then with even more compassion in his voice the aged father replied, “I know you do son, but here is what I need you to do … be a man son, tough it out and preach.”

Little did he know, (excepting the normal niceties and goodbyes), these were the last words this teenager would ever hear his father say. While he was on his way home from the speaking engagement, the young man’s father unexpectedly passed away. Those final words, “be a man son, and preach” would resonate in the ears of this young evangelist for decades to come.

I share this story with you, as it was publicly shared from the man who lived it, H.B. Charles Jr. You see, HB (as he is affectionately called) was something of a preaching prodigy. He had surrendered to the call to preach as just a young teenager and began pastoring his first church at the age of 17. Growing up in church and with a father who was a preacher and pastor, the young man was well taught in Biblical matters. Very early, it became obvious the youth was remarkably gifted. Quickly he became a much-sought-after speaker at conferences, churches, and particularly at youth events all over the country.

Hence, HB was really no more than just an anxious homesick teenager who had been too far away from home for too long, when he plead with his father that night to let him come home early. Yet, God used the sage counsel of HB Charles Sr. to make a lasting impact on the life and ministry of his son HB Charles Jr. “Be a man son, and preach.”

Interestingly, this situation is actually very similar to one found in the Bible.

In fact, this must have been very much how young Timothy felt when he received his final letter from the Apostle Paul. Understand, the book we know of as 2^nd Timothy was the last epistle (letter) Paul was inspired to write. It was, his last will and testament, if you will. This correspondence was the final time the aged apostle would speak with his “son in the faith,” Timothy. As Paul was sitting in a Roman prison cell awaiting execution, he knew full well his days were numbered. Therefore, in his final words to Timothy, with both pastoral and parental pleadings, Paul urges Timothy – be a man son, and preach.

Throughout this letter, Paul implores young Timothy to press on in the faith. To  keep on keeping on, in spite of all opposition. The weathered missionary warns Timothy he can fully expect persecution, hostility, and resistance. Paul, with apostolic authority, had left Timothy to serve as pastor of the church at Ephesus. And like all other churches, this congregation was a mess. Paul’s counsel to Timothy is man-up, tough it out and preach the Word. He encourages his young ministerial protégé not to turn to earthly ideas or the vain philosophy of men to empower his ministry or change the church; but to fully rely on the Word and Spirit of God to do what men cannot.

Note Paul’s inspired counsel from 2 Timothy 3:14-17; “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Paul wanted Timothy to rely on the Inspired, Inerrant, and all-Sufficient Scripture to save sinners and sanctify saints. The sacred writings, Paul says, can make one wise unto salvation. The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments point lost sinners to the redemptive work of the Messiah. It is by faith in Christ alone that individuals come to a saving relationship with God. Paul knew this. Paul had lived this. Hence, Paul wanted Timothy to preach this. All Scripture, Paul affirms, is breathed-out by God and is profitable – for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Or simply stated, God’s Word tells us what is right, what is wrong, how to get right and how to stay right.

Folks, there is no other book like the Bible. No other writing can do what the Bible can do or can rightly claim to be the revelation of God Himself. The Apostle writes to Timothy and asserts; the Word of God can save, sanctify, sustain and supply not just your need, but the need of everyone to whom you minister. Oh, how I wish Evangelicalism shared that same belief and conviction today! How quickly, and foolishly do men turn to worldly means to try and accomplish spiritual feats! To be sure, the Apostle would angrily reject the pulpit pragmatists and games and gimmicks gospel efforts so readily employed by immature Evangelicals today. Paul believed, as every Christian should – the Word is sufficient.

After placing the weight of eternity and final judgment on Timothy’s young shoulders, Paul gives this emphatic command – “Preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Timothy, Paul would say, “let others do what they’re going to do … but as for you, preach the Word.” What the people of God need more than anything else is the Word of God. What this world needs more than anything else, is the Word of God! What their culture and the early churches needed, is the same thing every congregation and civilization needs; and that is to hear Scripture clearly explained, expounded, and applied. This was Timothy’s primary duty as pastor and Paul’s primary charge to him. Therefore, his dying declaration is a clarion call to pulpit faithfulness.

The final words of his father in the faith must have echoed in Timothy’s mind throughout his life and ministry. Just as the final words of HB’s father had a lasting impact on him. I can tell you this, these real-life stories, and the encouraging exhortations from them, have helped me press on, when I just wanted to quit and go home.

So, preacher friends – be a man, tough it out and preach. As HB often says; “the Word works, it just doesn’t always work on our timetable!”

(On a personal note: HB has been a ministerial mentor for me and many others … without even knowing it … and I am thankful for his faithful ministry … and him sharing this private story with the world.)
If you’d like to hear one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard in person … click on the link below.

https://youtu.be/8TkCZWcoJzM?si=jQ08lnKVRgUOGUka