One of the most interesting and greatest men I have ever known passed away yesterday. If you knew Dave Ohlerking you know what I mean, if you did not I don't think i could ever fully explain. He was a man of words with few of them wasted. He was a man of action who's validity is prevalent across the world. If you listened close enough you could hear the joy of a little boy inside. If you stayed long enough you would see that little boy cry for all of his brothers and sisters who were sick, hurting, hungry and without Jesus.
As I reflect on the legacy he leaves us all with, I look at my own life and ask God for the strength to be half the man Dave Ohlerking was. With all the victories and the stories I have had the privilege of hearing Dave tell and others tell about him I am honored to even know as little as I do about him. Something in me wells up wanting to be like he was.
While i imagined this God asked me a simple question, "Who do you want to make famous?"
Like an arrow through my soul this question shot, because I know who Dave always was desiring to bring fame to, his name is Jesus. Dave Ohlerking this wonderful father, husband, missionary, leader and friend never demonstrated a desire to be famous. With each new endeavor he brought Glory to Jesus.
In 3 John the Epistle speaks of a man named Diotrephes who always desires to be first. John warns the leaders in the church to have nothing to do with him. Later he says, "do not imitate what is evil but what is good." He says that this is evil to desire to always be first. Yet as I stood sweeping the courtyard of the hospital I was reminded of the countless times I have tried to be first when God clearly had not put me in that position. Jesus said, "He who is the least among you all, he is the greatest" So why do I try so many times to be great when Jesus calls me to be a servant? Why do I try to go Diotrephes on everyone when Jesus said to come as a child?
Dave gave us a great path to follow because he was following Jesus. I pray we can humble ourselves and as Paul said to the Philippians "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Lets work hard and make sure Jesus is the one we make famous.
"It is amazing what we can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit." - Anonymous ;-)
That's awesome! I just spent over an hour reading all of his tweets and writing down all his quotes. I so wish I had spent more time with him and asked more questions. The last time I saw him I thought the same thing. He was a very wise man and he lived an amzing life. I thank God for allowing to meet Dave Ohlerking and allowing to learn from him.
ReplyDeleteYeah i can't wait to get to Heaven and find out all the lives he touched that he didn't even know about.
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