Unfathomable Grace

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There are some people who know me as Pastor Franks.

There are some people, those who know me better, who call me Joe.

Then, throughout Greenville County, there are some who have known me a long time. For decades, they have known me as JoJo.

Jimmy Knight is one such person. (And yes, I did mean to use the present tense “is.”)

Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, he watched me, dressed like a saint, devilishly running through the halls of Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church. He witnessed my growing up, getting saved, getting married, and going to work in corporate America. With fond memories I look back at many fateful older saints who covenanted to assist my parents in the nurture and admonition of their children in the Lord. The names of these faithful friends are too many to list, but Jimmy and Pat Knight have made the list.

Then, throughout the next two decades, through relations with my parents, Jimmy learned of my changing of vocations. Somehow, Jo Jo had become a minister and was pastoring in Florida, Alabama, and elsewhere in South Carolina. Perhaps Jimmy was amazed; for sure he was amused. God seemed to have a sense of humor.

Then, in 2018, the Franks and Knights were reunited. The Lord allowed me to come and minister at Horizon Church, it was then that I became freshly aware the true beauty of my friend.

Jimmy was a family man. He was incredibly devoted to his bride and best friend and was always having excited conversations about his children and grandchildren.

He was a church man. Faithfully he served the Lord at Mitchell Road, then he faithfully planted — along with several other key families — Horizon Church. His love, leadership, and work-ethic was stellar. Even until the recent decline of his health, Jimmy remained eager to serve his church by means of his material wealth, vast skills, and sweat equity.

He was an encouraging man. For almost six years now, he has served as my private cheerleader. Behind the scenes he would approach me to tell me, “Good job; keep your head up; keep going; God is using you; He is doing great things!”

He was a spiritual man. How he loved having his private devotions; reading, praying, and singing with Pat; and gathering with his church family for public worship. There’s no doubt about his being a Presbyterian, but I could swear he had a good-bit of charismatic fervor in him as well.

He was a Gospel man. With all his heart Jimmy believed his own spiritual depravity. He knew his sin and its consequences. However, he richly celebrated how he had been fully pardoned and declared a saint due to the sole-performance of Jesus Christ. Jimmy was humble and confident in this regard. He knew the guarantee of his eternal inheritance, and he was right.

Jimmy, today, remains a blessed and happy man. Today, he is without the experience of sin. All his thoughts, deeds, words, and actions are just like Jesus. Today, all his physical aches and pains are eliminated. Today, while waiting for his reunion with Pat, family, and friends, he presently enjoys intimate fellowship with the Father, Son, Spirit, and all manner of saints. And today, he worships like never before — with Presbyterian elders and charismatic joy.

And tomorrow, for Jimmy, heaven gets even better than today. Sweet reunion is over the horizon.

Therefore friends, do I miss Jimmy Knight? Would I like to see his smiling face and hear his words of encouragement again? The answer is “yes,” and so I mourn.

However, would I bring him back today to experience his remaining sin and bodily suffering. No way! I am so glad father and brother is celebrating in paradise.

So, in accordance with the inspired words of David, I say to Jimmy Knight, “My friend, I will not say ‘Farewell!’ I will only say, ‘See you later.’ You will not return to me, but someday soon, I will come your way, and what a sweet reunion it will be on that glorious day.”