THE TRIFECTA

What a trifecta! That's a word that we use to point to any achievement involving three successful outcomes. (It has its origin in betting on horses . . . so I'm told.) But before we get to that, let's look at conversion stories.

The "How-I-Became-A-Christian-Stories," i. e. "testimonies," which resonate with us are the dramatic, made for the movies kind. The stories of the drug dealer, gang leader, or the mob hit man who trusted Christ as Savior and who are now an evangelist, pastor, or youth worker are those we want to hear. Such testimonies are fascinating whether told in person or in an article or a book. We use them to hold the attention of youthful audiences in particular. They are exciting.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

But if your testimony doesn't rival Saul's on the Damascus Highway, nobody is going to pay attention to you and certainly they're not going to fly you in to deliver it at next summer's youth camp. 

TRIFECTA?

By now you're asking, "OK, but what about this trifecta stuff?" Fair enough; let's get started . . .

Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary who compiled some sort of record for in-class teaching: he taught for 65 years without missing a single class or lecturing from notes. (A fractured hip broke the string.) 

During that time and still today, he's regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on biblical prophecy, writing the classic tome used around the globe, "Things to Come." If you want a grounding in prophecy, that's your go-to book.

His signature class at Dallas was "The Life of Christ," which the school considered so valuable that they flew him to Israel and, as he walked where Jesus walked, he taught the course for a DVD series. 

In addition, his books have blessed millions of people and his life was a blessing to those who knew him. He died at age 99.

Dr. Charles Ryrie is a household name among Christians, especially those who are seriously into Bible study. He also taught at Dallas Seminary for many years and we recognize him as the premier dispensationalist because of his book, "Dispensationalism Today" which was published in 1965. 

In addition to that, you'll be able to find "The Ryrie Study Bible" in almost every country. His "Balancing the Christian Life" is also highly regarded, as is his "Basic Theology." He too lived into his 90's and then passed into the presence of the Lord in his sleep.

Dr. John F. Walvoord, the president of Dallas Seminary for many decades taught at the school as well. His forte was prophecy and he fully expected to live to see the rapture, but such was not to be. It was he who brought Dr. Pentecost to the seminary. He too put his fingers to the keyboard and wrote book after book of great blessing to believers everywhere. 

THOSE THREE

There wasn't a church in the world who would ask any of those three to come and give the boring testimony of their conversion. (I'm using a bit of sanctified facetious hyperbole, but you get the idea.) The reason is because neither of the three had been a drug dealer, the mob hit man, or led a gang of Hell's Angels. 

No. If they were to give their testimonies, all three could do so in three words: "I was raised in a Christian home." Dr. Ryrie trusted Christ at age 5 and Dr. Walvoord did the same when he was 15. Dr. Pentecost's parents were intense Presbyterians whose other son also taught at Dallas Seminary and was recognized authority in missions. No Damascus Road, no blinding light, no voice, no call to write a movie script about their conversions. 

HOW WERE THEY SAVED?

We speak of the gang leader turned evangelist as being "gloriously saved," but the child who trusts Christ as Savior, well, we say that he was merely "saved." No "glorious salvation" for him. But each were saved in the same way with the same amount of grace by the same Savior.

Child evangelism is sort of the red headed stepchild of evangelicalism. Those who serve the Lord in that segment of our population go unsung. But standing as a testimony to their important work is the trifecta of the childhood conversions Walvoord, Pentecost, and Ryrie. 

A FINAL WORD

The 19th century American evangelist Dwight L. Moody said it well: At a meeting, Moody reported,  "Two and a half people were converted to Christ. "

A friend asked if he meant two adults and a child. Moody said, "No, two children and an adult. When a child is led to Christ, a whole life is saved!"