Randy Travis sang a song back in the 80’s called, “Forever and Ever, Amen.” There’s a tenderness in that song that’s special to married people. It echoes what the bible says that we are to not let anything take apart the relationship, which God has put together.
This isn’t a coincidence.
It turns out that Randy Travis had some genuine godly influences in his life. His dad persuaded him to start playing guitar and sing in church. At 8 years of age he began playing worship music.
Randy tells of reading his bible one night in bed and feeling God’s love. He gave his life to Christ and was later baptized.
But there was a dark side.
Randy was arrested several times in the 70s. He ran off with another man’s wife, who he eventually married. Yet in spite of lots of personal turmoil, his career continued to take off. His album, Storms of Life sold over 4 million copies. In 1988 he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Then things started unraveling.
After 19 years of marriage, Randy and his wife were divorced. Then in February 2012, Randy was arrested for public intoxication while sitting in a stolen police car at a Baptist church. He paid a fine and was placed on a 90-day probation.
In August of 2012, police in Grayson County, Texas responded to a call that an unclothed man was lying in the road. Police reported that they arrived to find Travis unclothed and smelling of alcohol. Travis threatened the lives of the officers. Travis was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated and retaliation against law enforcement officials.
Randy’s troubles continued.
On August 24, 2012, he was arrested for assaulting a man early one morning in a church parking lot . Both men had to be taken to the hospital. One witness stating that Travis appeared to be “extremely intoxicated.”
I read an interview of a man who claimed to be a lifelong friend of Randy. He was quoted saying,
“None of Randy’s troubles surprise me. I knew something was wrong a long time ago.”
As I read this, I became so angry! That is singularly the most deceitful, garbage-filled waste of time statement you could ask for!!! A lifelong friend who claims he knew something was wrong a long time ago???
WHY DIDN’T HE DO SOMETHING???!!!!!!
When people fall into some kind of sin or calamity, there are always those who claim they knew something was fishy all along. They act as if they had some kind of “spiritual discernment” that showed them something was wrong. Unfortunately, the only thing that usually transpires are whispers and gossip that are all after the fact. This is totally contrary to what the bible teaches.
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who guards your life know it?” (Proverbs 24:11, 12, NIV)
We are not to sit around and watch people train wreck their lives and then say, “I knew something was wrong.” We are to reach out to them. We are to rescue them. And we are to do this and hopefully save them way before the wreck happens!
I pray God sends those kinds of friends into our lives…and Randy Travis’.
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