Edward Williams 8-16-1922
October 9, 2007
God wanted to do something special for the world on August 6th 1922, and God decided to complete the work in the womb of Viola Clayton Williams. God chose to bring forth little Edward Williams. God probably took a step back and looked at him, and said," this is good, very good. I will fill him with a capacity to love others and to enjoy music."
And that little baby grew to be a boy, who grew to be a man who grew to be a child of God. And after 85 years, God was once again delighted to have that same gift return to him again. For the scriptures boldly proclaim, in Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Today, we often think death is something to be avoided at all cost, but for the believer in Jesus Christ, death is merely the passing from one form of service to God to another. You see Edward Williams decided to die a long time ago, when he made the decision to follow Jesus Christ. He took Jesus at his word, when Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; Last Sunday Ed Williams made it to church as one of the great cloud of witnesses who has gone on before us cheering us on in the faith.
Ed had the privilege of being part of a large family. George and Viola took seriously the commandment to be fruitful and multiply, and as a result they had eleven children. If they had of had just one more, we could speak of the 12 tribes from Montgomery, Al. Ed knew what it was like to have a loving mother and father.
His father demonstrated the role of a servant leader. His father would always serve the meal. The kids would be served first, then his wife and then he himself would be served. Ed’s father taught them to have the highest utmost respect for their mother and for women in general. As a boy, Ed was quiet and for the most part obedient as a child.
His brother Thomas, said that when it came to whippings, he was the one that had to learn the hard way, so he got enough of them for both he and Ed. Ed was also a finicky eater as a youth, and his mother catered to it according to Thomas.
As a young boy, Ed developed a love for music. He hung around people who loved music. His collection of music continued throughout his life. He could tell you who wrote a song, when it came out and when the person died. He tried playing the saxophone a little bit but that was not one of his strong points.
Ed was a good example of a man. If only all the people who only know what a Black man is from TV and the media, could have had the privilege of meeting Mr. Edward Williams images would change. If only the people who talk about there being no positive Black role models could have met Mr. Edward Williams, they would see they’ve been looking in the wrong places. If only the people who think Black families are somehow deficient could have met Mr.Edward Williams, and seen what he had done in his family they’d have to think twice. Here was a man who was active in the life of his church.
Here was a giant of a man not because he led some great movement, not because he built an empire, not because he’s world famous, but because he was willing to show us what it is to care about your family. He’s an example of how a man ought to love his wife, he’s an example of how a father ought to love his daughters, he’s an example of how a Christian ought to love other Christians, and how Christians are to love those outside the church.
One of the great joys of his life, was his wife Mildred Brannon. He spoke positive about his wife wherever he went. A friend had introduced Ed to Mildred at a party. The love bug had bit him, but Ed was too shy and quiet to get the sparks going by himself. So he had passed on a message by a friend to test the waters.
This mutual friend came to Mildred and told her, “I know somebody who likes you.” She said. “Who.” He said, “Ed Williams.” Well inside she had to admit, “Ed was kind of handsome, but she was not about to rush into anything.” They dated for a few years. When Ed finally got up enough nerve to ask the question, it was at the movies. “he said, will you marry me.”
To his surprise, she said, “well maybe.” She waited until after he had actually brought a ring before she said yes. What really captivated her heart was not just his dashing looks, but they she knew he would work and that he had a job. Mildred knew that love alone would not pay the bills.
That decision to say yes to each other led them on a journey of being together for well over fifty years. They lived out of their vows till death do us apart. It not only gave Edward the joy of a being the husband of a wonderful woman, it provided him the opportunity to be a great father to his daughters.
Ed carried his finicky eating pattern right on into his marriage, but Ms. Edwards did not mind because she knew in advance what he was going to eat and what he was not going to eat. You were always safe with a steak with Him. Her testimony of her husband is that he was a very good husband. He tried to provide her with the best of the things he could get. He was a man who truly loved his wife as himself, as the word of God tells men to do.
Ed wanted to encourage other members of his family as well. He often spoke of his nieces Marlene and Elaine. Uncle Ed was somebody special in two ways. One is that he just did nice things for you. Marlene still has the first brief case he purchased for her when she started taking piano lessons. She gave up the lessons, but she still has the case. Uncle Ed he had a particular way of using his finger to get his point across to you that commanded respect all by itself.
Life is a gift with a beginning point called birth and an ending point called death. During that entire time, there is one choice that we make, that determines a change in one’s live forever after it, and determines what happens on the other side of death. We all have to make a choice about what will we do with a guy by the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus made two important claims about Himself. He claimed to be the Son of God, and He claimed that no one could come to God the Father except through Him. A person has to be born again and have a living relationship to him if the person is to be saved.
If Jesus’ claims were false, then it does not matter what we believe. We can get to heaven on our own efforts of being good. If his claims were true, then we need to consider further what he says about this life and the life to come. He tells us our works will never be good enough for us to have eternal life.
Mark 8:34-37 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Ed Williams wrestled with that decision on what to do about Jesus Christ. He realized that no one could force him to choose to follow Christ, and that God Himself would leave the decision up to him. He recognized he could never be good enough to earn the privilege of eternal life. He choose to follow Christ, and it made a difference in his life. He chose to live out his role in the body of Christ here at Glenville New Life Community Church.
Ed’s gift in our church was the role of an encourager. He looked for ways to lift your spirit. In our past 18 years here as pastors, he has been one of the most faithful in terms of attendance. Taking a couple of buses even in the cold of winter to make it to church.
He wanted to be in the presence of God’s people. Jesus had stood at the door knocking on Ed’s life and Ed opened the door and invited him in. It was this first invitation that made his death last week as merely a passing event from one form of service to God to another.
For those of us who die without knowing Jesus Christ , Edward Williams will only be a memory, a very good and loving memory. But for those of us who do know Jesus Christ, Edward Williams is simply waiting to meet us on the other side.
Let me ask you. Are you prepared to meet Ed on the other side. Did you know that according to Jesus, most people will not go to heaven? Most people will not get to see Edward Williams on the other side.
Jesus said in , Mat 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to enter that narrow gate. All you have to do is to admit, "God, I have done a lot of things I should not have done. I realize I cannot pay for all that I have done. I ask you for forgiveness. I accept that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He being holy and righteous, paid the penalty for my sin. I invite him to come into my life and take control of it."
You will make numerous decisions in your life between your birth and your death. But the only decision that will still be personally affecting you a 1000 years from today, is what did you do with Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches there will certainly be a resurrection of everybody from the dead, and then comes the judgment of God.
Edward Williams is prepared for that Judgment. Like the Apostle Paul he can say, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
We may say of Ed , was my friend, he was my uncle, he was my brother, he was my father, or he was my husband, but the greatest truth of them all is that Edward Williams is and forever will be a a child of God who has now completely returned to God.
For like the apostle Paul, he too can declare, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
He is ready to stand in the presence of Jesus Christ, and fully expects to hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the joy of my kingdom." We need not wonder what the future holds for him, because if he could sing one song one last time, I think he just my choose, "It Is Well With My Soul."
When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he not only paid the penalty for our sins, he conquered death and promised us eternal life if we would believe in Him and follow in his footsteps. Edward Williams is more alive now than he ever was, and one day we shall be with him. For the Bible clearly teaches,
1 Th 4:13 Brothers and sisters , we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men and women, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
