Another Real American Hero Passes Into History – And Into the Presence of the Savior

Wayne W. Livesay
June 16, 1922 – October 31, 2009

At about 8:00 this morning, October 31, 2009, the United States of America lost another of its real heroes. My dad, Wayne W. Livesay, passed out of this earthly life into the presence of the Savior he loved. He has now been reunited with my mom, Anna Ruth Livesay, his wife of sixty-two years, who went on before him in 2007. He was eighty-seven years old, although I believe all that he suffered over the years aged him excessively and gave him the body of a ninety-five year old.

His last few months, weeks, and days were not pleasant. He did not, as is so often said, “pass away after a long illness.” He was actually quite healthy in many ways, taking only two medications and having a normal EKG yesterday, the day prior to his death. In his case, it would be most accurate to say that he “passed away after a long bout with old age.”

My dad was not famous, but he did more for his country than most of us could ever imagine. He fought and bled for the freedom we all enjoy, even for the freedoms of those who today spit on the flag and make a mockery of the liberty we have in this country. His thirty-three missions in B-17 bombers were many beyond the average life-expectancy of bomber crews in World War 2. His nine months as a prisoner of war in Germany took a toll on his body that caused him to suffer until the end of his life.

In addition to his service to his country, he had a long life of service to the Lord, serving as a pastor and church planter, teaching adult Sunday school for many years, and presenting the gospel of Christ to unbelievers. His life’s verse was Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We will miss him, but we are thankful that he is now at rest and at peace in the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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My dad’s brother, Arthur Livesay of Pennington Gap, Virginia, has suggested that it would be most appropriate to ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in my dad’s memory to the Sue Livesay Memorial Scholarship Fund. I agree with him, since my dad was a faithful supporter of the fund.

Is Jesus Narrow-minded?

I have heard it said that Jesus is totally open, accepting, and tolerant of all people, “just like they are.” The reality is that such an idea simply does not square with the Scriptures. While it is true that we cannot change ourselves in order to come to Him for salvation, it is also true that He changes us and makes us into a new creation.

A biblical illustration that is commonly used to portray his “openness” and “acceptance” is the account of the woman caught in adultery. We are told that Jesus accepted her just like she was; but is that really the case? When a sinner comes to Christ, he must come with nothing to offer and simply throw himself “on the mercy of the court.” However, unlike a human hall of justice, Jesus takes the sinner and changes him – permanently and completely. He never accepts us in our sin by leaving us in that condition. He did not say to the woman, “That’s OK, you are forgiven. I know you are doing your best.” Instead, he told her to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). This incident actually illustrates that Jesus is in the “changing” business, not the “tolerating” business.

The Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear during His earthly ministry that the only acceptable way is His way. He is the God of the universe, the creator of all things. He needs no input from us. I heard an atheist say on a “You Tube” video, “A god who’s afraid of new ideas is certainly no creator.” Such a statement is the height of arrogance and shows a lack of understanding of the nature of God that is total and complete. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor?” (Romans 11:34, NASB). He needs no input from us, and there is no “wiggle room” to negotiate what He has said.

Jesus made the claim to a group of scribes and Pharisees that He was (and still is, by the way) God. And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24, NASB).

That last section is very profound, but it certainly does not sound open, accepting, and tolerant. “…unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Was Jesus narrow-minded? The answer is obvious.

No Evidence for God?

It has been rightly said that the "atheist" can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman. He knows that if he admits that there is a God, he is admitting that he is ultimately responsible to Him. This is not a pleasant thought for some. (From God Doesn't Believe in Atheists by Ray Comfort)