Editor’s note: Roy McKee died peacefully at his ranch July 17. He was one year shy of his 100th birthday, which would have been Sept. 14. At his service last Thursday, a letter was read that had been written by Roy with the intention it be shared at his funeral. Here are the introductory remarks by the Rev. J.D. “Doc” Watson, pastor of Grace Bible Church, followed by Roy McKee’s letter.
“For those of you who don’t know who I am, I pastored Roy for 24 years here at Grace Bible Church. He was among the godliest men I have ever known in all my years of ministry. It was an honor, blessing and privilege to pastor him for those years. There are few men who I have known that I hold as high in regard and respect than I did Roy. Yes, he was most certainly a cattleman. But spiritually speaking, he was a sheep that humbly followed the Great Shepherd and the under-shepherds who have pastored this church. Through the years he continuously and consistently grew deeper through the nourishment of the Word of God.”
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Dear loved ones and friends,
This is the last opportunity I will have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with you. Let us consider a solemn question. Why are we here for a conscious period of time known as time? Surely life is not so shallow and meaningless that we are here just by chance. The Bible says we are created in the image and likeness of God. Surely he had a reason for that. I believe it was to have fellowship with us and to work through us to his honor and glory. But first, we must submit to him.
Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3: 5, 6).
The wisest man of his time (King Solomon) asked the question, “What is life all about?” He tried to experience all that this life had to offer, and came to this conclusion. He said, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man, for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14). If this is so, and I believe it is, then why not trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths? (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Dear folks, how well do you know Jesus Christ? The one who created all things, the one who gave his life on the cross at Calvary for you and me. We would do well to make the same statement that the Apostle Paul made in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
To know Christ on a personal, intimate basis means it matters not how long we live, but who we live for. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” God demands perfection, and I am sure we all will have to admit that none of us are, so we acknowledge our sin by receiving Christ. John 1:12 says, “As many as received him (Christ) to them he gave the power to become the sons (children) of God.”
Hebrews 9:27 says, “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Dear folks, please don’t go out into eternity without receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. Not to do so is to experience the second death (Revelation 20:14).
