My oldies radio station was blaring “In the Year 2525, if man is still alive ….” This 1969 classic broadcasts disturbing predictions for each selected year.
In the year 3535, for example, all of a person’s actions, words and thoughts will be preprogrammed into a daily pill. Could this be a strategic way to get positive feedback and plenty of decisions on Sundays? Pop a few pills strategically in the old percolator? Not a good idea.
Jeff JohnsonI began daydreaming it was the year 2525—and I was browsing about in an ancient digital library, if such places even exist in 2525. As I scrolled through the titles, I come across “The Most Important Events in the Baptist General Convention of Texas, 20th and 21st Centuries,” which is not too catchy but, hey, I’m being hypothetical here.
What done way back then still matters in 2525? What events that have occurred in my lifetime will be remembered 500 years from now?
I am a lot more focused on the present, seeing the big events in this time as “earth-shattering,” while not realizing that 500 years from now, they probably will have been swept into the dustbin of history or consigned to an obscure doctoral dissertation—which could be the same thing.
What do I seem to honor from 500 or even 100 years ago? As my memories get fuzzy, the reasons for the certain events themselves become less apparent. What really gets remembered? I know, scandals. The truth? I cannot even remember all the Watergate stuff without a History Channel refresher.
What will be remembered about Texas Baptists 500 years from now? What kinds of things really last? The Bible makes a strong case for the ideas and actions that mirror Christ.
One hundred years ago, Texas Baptists did one of those Christ-mirroring things. We decided to unite, with representative leadership from local churches, between annual meetings to think about and do the work and business of the gospel—together. We call it the Executive Board. The board consists of 90 directors selected from 30 sectors around the state.
On the evening of Sept. 29, Ron Lyles, our Executive Board chair, will lead the board in celebrating its 100th birthday. Perhaps the evening will be remembered in the year 2525. I understand he dug into some enlightening historical records.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
For now though, I can tell you I probably will not be among those remembered 500 years from now, or even 100 or 50 (I refuse to go any further; the truth hurts.) years from now. If I really want to leave my mark on Texas, the best way to do it is to follow the way of Jesus—to think on and do the things that really matter to God.
Truth is that humans have short memories. What I do for God is what really will last. I am thinking that is true for Texas Baptists, too.
Jeff Johnson is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Commerce.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.