I Have Known You Since Day One

(Note: This article was published on the Christian Grandfather Magazine.)

A friend recently challenged me to strongly consider writing more about my experiences as a Christian grandfather and father in order to help others. I have to admit, it was hard to hear that for two reasons.

First, I already have several articles in various stages of completion. I have over two dozen proposed articles on theology of work projects listed on my spreadsheet. I want to make some progress on a special one that I am writing about God’s goodness during our recent move and try to finish another one.

Second, I am not confident I have been all that deliberate with teaching my children or grandchildren spiritual things like how to read the Bible or how to pray. I’ve prayed for them and with them. I have looked for teachable moments and have sown seeds. I have tried to speak their love language. I am not sure I did that much with my own kids, figuring that they would learn best by watching my example. Children often learn best by what is caught, rather than what is taught.

However, I do take my role as patriarch of this first-generation Christian family very seriously. I have a whole lot to share after 41 years of marriage, 37 years as a parent, and seven years as a grandfather.

For my first reflection that I have written as the Lord leads, let me focus on something I have thought about and said numerous times. I may be the only one to have ever given so much thought to this deep and personal concept. Maybe it might help someone else.

Being there on time

One of the things that I am most grateful for is that I have been blessed to meet each of my five grandchildren on Day One; i.e., within 24 hours of their birth. In some cases, it has been on their actual birthday, but sometimes the next day. This means a lot to me now and will be useful in the future. 

I realize and respect that many new mothers would not want their parents or parents-in-law to visit their new grandchild right away, but I am glad that our daughter and son’s wife were open to that. My wife and I have been fortunate to have been able to travel the eight hours to Milwaukee and four hours to Kansas City in order to make it there on time to meet them. Let me describe what I remember.

With our first grandson, we got the call that our daughter was in labor in the early morning hours. We were able to hit the road a couple of hours later and arrived about dinner time. It was so surreal to meet the first-born child of our first born child. Our girl was a now a mom and we were grandparents.

In the case of the second one, we had to relieve our daughter’s friends who volunteered to watch their firstborn son until we arrived. For our daughter’s third child, she arranged for my wife to come just before Mother’s Day and stay as long as needed. When I got the call that labor had begun, I made plane reservations, flew out of St. Louis, and arrived just in time to eat and put the boys to bed. Early the next morning, my wife and I brought them to the hospital to meet our beautiful granddaughter.

Our son’s first son was born in the Kansas City area. Despite the fact that he was born on the same day that I had a prostate biopsy, we were able to make it up to the hospital just before visiting hours ended. Before their second one was born, just like our daughter had done, our son had asked us to take care of big brother at their home. We got to see the new little guy the next morning while it was still day one.

It is worth mentioning that this is not a practice that I carried down from previous generations. My wife and I did not have Christian grandparents, nor did our children. We have just done what we’ve always done in our marriage and parenting. By the grace of God, we just made it up as we went along. I am grateful we could do this for them. My hope is that it will continue with others when they are born.

Being known and loved

So, why is this so significant? What impact on these kids have I seen or hope to see down the road?

It has brought me immeasurable joy to hold my five grandchildren on their very first day of life. Each time I saw them I was reminded of how David described himself in Ps. 139:14; they were fearfully and wonderfully made. They were tiny miracles. To help celebrate, I wrote each of their names and year of birth in the margin of my Bible next to Prov. 17:6, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged.”

The birthday is only the beginning of a lifelong relationship. We had to keep the momentum going.

Over the past few years, we get to see the grandchildren three or four times a year, sometimes more. We usually go up on Easter weekend. On Columbus Day weekend in the fall, we pick apples. They  come down to see us in Missouri for a few days in the summer and for a holiday or two. My daughter recently dropped her three kids at our house to watch them for four days while she was out of state. We have made similar trips several times a year up to Kansas City to see our sons boys, although it has not been quite as predictable.

The long stretch between visits used to be a major concern. Would they still remember us?  Somehow they did. Even when the kids were babies who hadn’t seen our faces for several months, there would be a flicker of recognition in their eyes. When they heard our voices, they would give us a big smile.

I have said I have known them since day one to most of them a few times. I understand that at their age they have absolutely no idea what that means. I may remember that day, but they certainly do not. I say it as a way of expressing to them my unconditional love and commitment. I have been there, not very often, but I have been part of their lives from the beginning. I plan to be there for them as long as I can.

These words probably won’t be of much use or fully appreciated by them until they are teenagers. This is what I envision may happen. When they are not getting along with their parents, I want to be able to come alongside them and remind them why they can trust me. “I’ve known you since Day One.” I anticipate that I will use this line often throughout their lives to get them to open up so that I can help.

I think there is a great deal of divinely-designed security in having a family and an extended family who sticks together and is truly present for each other. It communicates to the child that they are seen, they are valued, they are cared for, they have a hopeful future, and that they will never be alone.

Being known and loved by God

I think that I have shared a lot of deep thoughts. Maybe there is more to say. I see a parallel between how I have felt towards my children and grandchildren and the way God feels towards His children.

God said something similar but even better to the prophet Jeremiah than what I have said to my grands. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jer. 1:5). As creator, God knew him before day one.

Furthermore, God has said the same to those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, “I have known you before day one.” Day one was when He created the world. Before creation, long before they were born, God determined they would be His children. The Apostle Paul boldly states in Eph. 1:4-5, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

Again, there is an incomprehensible security from understanding that our heavenly Father has known us our whole lives, accepts us in Christ, that He has been there, and always will be present with us. When we have no one else to turn to, He reminds us of these things so that we can trust Him to help.

My love for my children and grandchildren is strong, but I am weak. Even though I may have great intentions, I know that my influence on their lives will fall short. God is the one who will truly bring security, love, and hope, but only if they put their faith and trust in the Lord who has known them.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 41 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He served 20 years on active duty. Russ works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 180 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred of these articles have been published on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

Where do I Find God When I Start a New Job?

(Note: This article was published on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog and was posted on the Coram Deo blog.)

A couple of months ago, I sat in chapel where one of our chaplains and his family was recognized as they were about to move to another Army post to begin a new assignment. It occurred to me that I have never written about the many challenges a worker and his or her family face when they start a new job.

In the dozen jobs I had over my active-duty career, my wife and I understood that each time I was up for reassignment, there was what we called an “angel in uniform” who watched over the process. God needed us to be His representatives and do His work at just the right places at just the right times as we were stationed around the country and overseas. I tried to keep in mind that God was with me and that He had a variety of purposes in mind for His glory and my good.

But what do we need to do when we arrive at that new assignment? How do we fit in? How does our family find their place in the community, in the kids’ schools, and in church? These are not easy tasks.

Since there are numerous military families that are about to begin their “permanent change of station”, thousands of college graduates who moved across the country to start their new careers, and a host of other workers who for a variety of reasons have chosen to quit their jobs and relocate elsewhere, it might be an opportune time for me to explore this topic from a biblical and theological perspective.

Dealing with the new boss

Probably the first anxiety-producing situation is meeting your new boss. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. This unpredictability makes it a huge challenge for everyone.

I think what makes it challenging for all is that we have all seen, heard of, or have had bad bosses who have made their employees’ lives miserable. There are bosses who have been incompetent, uncaring, insensitive, selfish, angry, demanding, greedy, lecherous, or lazy. These all sound like sins to me.

As Christians, we know that sin has negatively affected the workplace since Adam and Eve. Adam’s sin cursed work for every human. Everyone we work for, everyone who works for us, our customers, and each one of us brings our own sins to the workplace daily, making work unnecessarily painful. And yet, God calls us to submit to our employers, knowing we are working for Jesus (Col. 3:22-24).

I can’t help but think about Joseph, and the three main positions that he fell into, starting in Gen. 39. He did not have bad bosses; to the contrary. The big take away from this narrative is that God was with Joseph, which brought him success. As a result, He blessed his employers. (See Gen. 39:5 and 23.)

I encourage those starting a new job to see your boss as someone whom God has put in your path for a variety of purposes. You can learn from them as they provide both good and bad examples on how to lead. Their sinful attitudes and actions will be part of the “thorns and thistles” we will experience at work until Jesus comes back. We must learn to see these as trials that God will help us to overcome.

Learning the new position

The next biggest challenge that workers will face is figuring out their new job responsibilities.

Ironically, this one is slightly less scary than the new boss. At least you have an idea of what you are getting into with a new position. You may have never done this particular job before, but it is possible you know someone who has or you may have been recommended by someone who used to hold it.

Sometimes, the job meets your expectations. The new projects you are assigned are doable in a reasonable amount of time. Your coworkers seem nice. The hours aren’t too bad. So far so good.

But after a while, those old thorns and thistles start showing up. You get handed more projects than you can handle; your plate is already full. You are juggling glass balls that can’t be dropped. More and more is expected of you. There is only so much you can do. You may feel like you are drowning.

You may have the opposite situation. You may feel overqualified for the job. It doesn’t challenge you mentally. You don’t have enough to do. You are underutilized. You are bored. It is not a good fit.

Either way, as a Christian, you have additional resources to handle this new job. Remember God’s promise that He will be with you wherever you go. That does not exclude this wilderness in which you find yourself. He is not only with you, but is working in you and through you to those all around you.

If the job is not a great fit, you truly have options. You can endure it, which may be what God wants. Or you can ask Him to rescue you from it, which is another avenue that glorifies God just as much.

Getting the family settled

In addition to your own struggles with the new boss and the new job, your family (if you are blessed to have one) has some different challenges of their own. You owe it to them to understand what they are going through. You also need to focus some of your time and energy over several months to assist.

My wife has often shared with young military wives that are new to our community at Fort Leonard Wood it normally took her six months or up to a year before she felt totally settled in a new duty station. She does this not to discourage them, but to give them realistic expectations. She learned, the hard way quite often, not to get overly involved in ministry activities until our kids and her were more or less unpacked in the new house, comfortable in a new church, and making friends in the new school.

Figuring out your purpose

I have had the privilege of serving in the same organization doing the same job for over 14 years now. However, during my twenty years on active duty and in various other jobs I had after I graduated from college, I can remember what it was like to go through what you may be going through right now. One of the things I have learned well is to trust God to show me some of the reasons why I have the jobs that He provided, especially in those tough jobs where I failed as a youth minister and a recruiter.

I also know from reading God’s word that He often places His people in just the right places at just the right time where He has chosen to use them for the building up of His kingdom. Many examples of ordinary workers come to mind: Moses, Nehemiah, David, Esther, the Apostle Paul, among others.

I would like to leave those who have recently started a new job with a word of encouragement.

God put you where you are for much more than just a paycheck, although that in itself is part of His blessing, too. He has a purpose for you being there. My hope is that you will see it. Maybe you will learn something critical you will need in the future. Maybe you will supervise someone who needs what you have to offer. Maybe you are there to minister to your boss. Maybe you have this job to see that God is with you and is working in and through you to love your neighbors by meeting their needs.

Whatever the reason (or multiple reasons) that you are working in this new assignment, know that God will use you as you walk with Him, abide in Christ, and are filled with the Holy Spirit. God will be present with you in your work, which I have called “Immanuel labor” for the past several years. I trust that you will be able to experience God’s presence like never before, and that you have joy when you do leave, knowing that this job was a significant part of God’s abundant life for you and your family.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 41 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He served 20 years on active duty. Russ works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 180 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred of these articles have been published on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

God’s Wisdom – The Source of all Hope and Peace

We have access to a wealth of information at out fingertips. We can Google how to do something we’ve never done before. We can listen to an endless variety of podcasts, radio programs, and news shows on television. We can look to social media for stories and opinions. There are books that we can read. It is overwhelming at times. How can we know for sure what is true and right and good?

Thankfully, God has not left us on our own to figure out how to live. In the book of Proverbs, we learn eternal truths that can help us to see the value of choosing God’s narrow path, over the world’s wide path. (See Matt. 7:13-14.) His path is marked by wisdom, righteousness, life, and peace.

I listened to an audio Bible reading of Proverbs 8 on the way to work last week. This is an amazing passage of Scripture that personifies wisdom. The focus of these powerful words was to highlight the value of God’s wisdom. It is one of His many unchangeable attributes that He has graciously revealed to us through the ages and through the pages of His holy Word. Let me share several observations of this chapter in the hope that some will choose to take the right fork in the road.

Before I expand on what I heard regarding our need for wisdom, it’s value and source, let me back up a bit and unpack some of the context of this book that will prepare us to understand chapter 8.

A little bit of context

The overarching purpose of this book is found in the first section (Prov. 1:1-7). Solomon wants his son to attain wisdom, discipline, understanding, and discretion, among other things. He concludes that the key to getting knowledge that leads to wisdom is a relationship with Yahweh (verse 7).

When you begin to read Prov. 8:1, you may notice a common literary device called personification, where non-living things are described as having human qualities for the sake of comparison. The writer declares, “Does not wisdom call out?” This harkens back to Prov. 1:20-21, where the same device is used, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares.”

When you look ahead to the NT, the Apostle Paul, like Solomon, contrasted the wise (those who fear the Lord, who are being saved) with those who are perishing (those who have rejected God). (See 1 Cor. 1:18-25.) Human wisdom will always fall short of God’s. Man’s wisdom is limited; God’s wisdom is limitless. Man’s wisdom changes with whichever view is popular; God’s wisdom remains the same. Man’s wisdom will end when Jesus returns. God’s wisdom will last for eternity.

The need for wisdom

Let me jump back into Proverbs 8 and make just a few observations regarding the need for wisdom.

In verse 1, we see that wisdom calls out. She raises her voice. (Note: It is interesting that wisdom is personified by a female, which might grab the attention of Solomon’s young son and males today.)

Why does wisdom have to call out and why does she do so “on the heights”, “where the paths meet”, and “beside the gates leading into the city”? (Prov. 8:2-3). Wisdom shouts where our pride makes us feel like we are on top of the world, at the crossroads where major life-changing decisions are made, and in the places where the world is at its worst. God, in His love and mercy continually and graciously reveals Himself to us and makes His presence known at our point of greatest need.

Reading on, we see that God, once again in His mercy and grace, offers “all mankind” a chance to choose His wisdom, His way, His path (verse 4). He does this because He knows that all need this wisdom in order to experience the abundant life that He promises and provides to His followers. God’s wise words that come out of His love for those He created in His image will save people from making costly mistakes they will regret later. His wisdom is right and true (verses 6-7).

The value of wisdom

Wisdom is also needed because it is ultimately more valuable than what the world can provide.

In contrast to the world’s ways that are crooked and perverse, God’s ways are just (verse 8). As valuable and necessary as silver and gold might be, Solomon wants us to know that it is far better for us in the long run to choose to listen to His words (verse 10). The wisdom He offers is worth more than all kinds of material wealth; nothing on earth can possibly compare to it (verse 11).

In a parallel passage in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells His followers not to worry about money. For those who seek Him first, God will provide everything they need (Matt. 6:25-33.)

The source of wisdom

There are several verses in the last portion of the chapter that stress that this wisdom is from God.

Wisdom is one of God’s unchanging and perfect attributes. It stands apart from all others, because this one He willingly shares with all who seek Him (verse 17). This corresponds with James 1:5.

We see that this inherent quality of God was put to good use when He created the world. It says that the Lord brought wisdom forth at the beginning of his work (2^nd NIV footnote for verse 22). God’s wisdom existed “from eternity [past], from the beginning, before the world began” (verse 23).

Solomon next describes where God used His divine wisdom to create everything that we can see.

As I listened to the description listed in Prov. 8:24-31, I could not help but think about the many different subjects that are studied in school, such as oceanography (v. 24), geography (vv. 25-26), astronomy (v. 27), and meteorology (v. 28). Like a craftsman who possesses expert skill to build something worthwhile using a variety of materials, God used His wisdom to create everything in this world to make it fit together in order to provide what humans with what they needed to survive.

Solomon concludes this chapter by exhorting his readers to listen to the God who is the source of all wisdom by diligently keeping His ways, humbly listening to His instruction, and eagerly watching for it daily (vv. 32-34.) For those who obtain this wisdom will find life and receive God’s favor.

Choosing wisely

What I want to accomplish here more than anything is to put the spotlight on God. I want those who are struggling and suffering in this world to look to Him and His Word for truth that will set them free, rather than seeking it from a worldview that is so prevalent but will always come up empty.

We will not find hope in politics. Men and women in office will always be flawed and unreliable. We will not find peace in entertainment, social media, arts, sports, education, work, or even family if we neglect the God who made everything for our good. God’s path is the only path that will give us the hope and peace the world cannot give. The only way to get on that path is through the gospel message of love that is found in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

My earnest desire is that my brothers and sisters who have been saved but have been drawn in and trapped by the world’s useless and evil value system (1 John 2:15-17) will take a few minutes to assess where they are going most frequently each day to discover what is true. If you are drowning in negativity by what you hear and see in the world, you might need to get back to the source of all wisdom. If God is in control and holds the keys to truth, joy, love, hope, and peace, then go there. 

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 41 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He served 20 years on active duty. Russ works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 180 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred of these articles have been published on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)