by Caleb Towles
Synopsis: Caleb Towles offers a tribute to his recently deceased grandfather, Clifford Towles—a good man and faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Recently, our family travelled to Tennessee to spend time with some of my mother's family. During the middle of our Wednesday evening Bible study, my father received a phone call. He excused himself from the room and stepped outside. As the study progressed, I watched my father walk around as he spoke on the phone. At first, I didn't think much about it, but as he re-entered the room, he leaned down and whispered into my mother's ear. Shortly afterward, I knew something was wrong. My mother's eyes teared up, and she leaned toward me and whispered, "Grandpa." Generally, I am not one to be overly emotional, but at this moment, I knew our lives would be forever changed. During the following days, I spent a great deal of time reflecting upon the man that I had known and by whom I had been blessed my entire life.
Clifford Towles lived to be eighty-seven years old. He was born in the early years of the Great Depression, raised in a time when life was hard and money was scarce. Just out of high school, he married his eighth-grade sweetheart, Evelyn. As Grandpa's life unfolded, he learned how challenging it could be. He served his country during the Korean War. While overseas, far from home, he received the news of the death of his firstborn daughter, only seventeen months old. For many couples, dealing with such loss can be disastrous, but they never gave up on life, or each other, and almost reached their 60th anniversary. For the last seven years of Grandma Evelyn's life, Grandpa selflessly served her as she fought and eventually lost her battle with cancer. During the next seven years, he faced life with dignity, courage, and faith, dealing with failing health, constant pain and the loneliness that can only come from losing a life-long mate.
It wasn't until mid-life that my Grandparents became Christians, but from then on they were wholeheartedly committed. My father was nearly a teenager when he saw the changes his parents began to make from worldliness to holiness. Although it was some years before he realized that his way of life was full of emptiness, his parent's true and genuine faith demonstrated a worthy road. The ongoing transformation that takes place in the life of one who has found his way out of darkness to Jesus Christ, the Light, is a powerful thing to witness. Their example led the way. Grandpa became a life-long student of God's word; searching the Scriptures, seeking to make his life a reflection of the image of Christ. He wasn't perfect, but he was determined to work out his "salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12-13). His open Bible and notes were found at his study desk just as he had left them on his last night.
Grandpa's physical talents were many—mechanical, electrical and practical. His curiosity and desire to learn remained strong. After spending even a short time around him, it was easy to see how gifted he was; yet, he used these abilities to bless others. Since his passing, it has been amazing to listen to fellow Christians, and people from his community speak of the ways in which he touched their lives. It might have been something as ingeniously simple as fixing a radiator cap with a pop can or solving a major electrical problem. He was there for others, offering help and encouragement with a smile in their time of need. One of his greatest traits was a determination to "give it all he had"—no matter the task. This is what made him such a great Christian example. So often, I have been reminded of what Paul told Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
We can easily forget or lose sight of our promises to God at the cost of our salvation. Peter reminds us to prepare our minds for action, be sober-minded, keep our hope securely fixed, be obedient and holy because we serve a holy, generous and just God (1 Pet. 1:13-19). Satan is continually at work, tempting us with carnal desires and pride, so we must remain in a state of sober awareness if we want to overcome (1 John 2:15-16).
In his later years, Grandpa exemplified Paul's writings to the Corinthians about suffering in life, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the unseen things. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18)
Although Paul spoke of the suffering that first-century disciples faced for the sake of Christ, what he says can also be true of our lives. Grandpa's battle was one he fought day by day as he put his hope in a "better country, that is a heavenly one" (Heb. 11:16), while he waited for the day to go home and be with God in heaven.
As I ponder the world we live in now, I contemplate the strength of the body of Christ if we all lived like this. Are we Christians who are focused on what is to come instead of the things of this world? Are we willing to stand with each other through life's hardships, continuing to give until we are used up in His service? Are we Christians who do not lose sight of the promise we made to God and the sure promises He made to us?
Though many things could be written about my Grandfather, his life can be summed up in this way: He was a man who loved God, feared his Creator, and rejoiced in the grace that God bestowed upon him through his baptism into Jesus Christ. His loving influence touched his generation, that of his four remaining children, his nine grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren. He was a man I greatly loved and respected. Even though his passing was difficult, it was also a time of comfort and rejoicing. It can be said of him that he fought the good fight; he finished the race; he kept the faith. Paul's confident statement of faith can be said of Grandpa, "Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on the day" (2 Tim. 4:6-8). As I reflect on Grandpa's life, my determination is renewed to gain the same victory.
All quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016.
Author Bio: Caleb Towles has been a member at the Westside Church of Christ in Casey, IL for twenty-three years. He and his wife, Sarah, have a son, two daughters, and two foster-daughters. The church website is caseychristians.org. He can be reached at calebtowles@hotmail.com.
