Some years ago, the mayor of Atlanta and two aides were rushing to catch a “plane train” at Hartsfield Airport.
In their haste, they walked into a passenger car and found themselves sitting there with some inmates from a mental hospital, all of whom were dressed in hospital clothing.
Just as the train pulled out of the terminal, an orderly stood up and began to count the inmates, “1-2-3-4 …” when suddenly he saw the three distinguished looking gentleman wearing business suits and asked, “Who are you?”
The answer came back from the first man, “I’m the mayor of Atlanta.” The orderly simply smiled and continued counting, “… 5-6-7.”
I’m skeptical on the validity of the story, but it does make a point: “Who are you?”
The answer to that question, however, lies in a more basic question: “Who is God?”
Paul offers answer in Ephesians.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
— Ephesians 1: 3-6
God the Father is the creator and sustainer of life! “Who am I?”
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
— Ephesians 1: 7-12
God the Son is the redeemer and friend of all those who believe in him, and I am a follower of Jesus Christ!
Sean Dietrich says his name was Joe, and Joe loved to write poetry. He later became a teacher, and met a girl who drowned a few days before their wedding.
He “ran away” from home, became a handyman in a small rural town, and met Catherine, who died shortly before their wedding.
Devastated and heartbroken, he sat up late one night writing a poem on a paper stained with tears:
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”
And you already know and have sung the rest of Joe’s story many times during worship services.
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
