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Those blessed empty chairs

Henry P.J. Dyck

This year, there will again be many people who will have empty chairs at their Christmas celebrations. Some chairs will never be filled again because loved ones have passed away. Other chairs will be empty because those who should be occupying them have deliberately chosen not to be there. Other chairs are empty because some family member has accepted the challenge of the Great Commission.

For our family, it will be the third Christmas since our daughter Marilee and her husband Markus Deutsch went to serve in the Mennonite Brethren Church in Steyr, Austria. They have two girls, ages five and three.

In II Timothy 1:89, Paul calls Timothy to join him in “suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace”. God does not save people so that they can have happy family gatherings. That is one of the many by-products. His purpose for salvation is not only that we would worship Him, but also that we would serve Him – through His enabling grace.

While we may be lonely for some loved ones this Christmas, the saddest parents I know are those whose children may be close to home but are far away from God.

A question we should ask ourselves is: If no one before me had been more willing to spread the gospel than I am, would it have reached me? Obviously many before us have had empty chairs at their Christmas celebrations because they have been willing to have their children, siblings and parents go to faraway places so that many more could hear of the Child who was born in Bethlehem.

In Matthew 19:29, Jesus promised “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Last year was the 40th anniversary of the MB Church in Steyr, Austria. Well over a hundred chairs are filled there every Lord’s Day because people were willing to leave chairs empty at home.

Henry P.J. Dyck is a member of Steinbach (Man.) MB Church.

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Last modified December 9, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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