King Solomon wrote, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Death became a significant part of Bob Waldron’s life, and one day, our own death will become part of our life story as well. It is wise for us to reflect on this!

I first met Brother Waldron at the funeral for Sister Rosa Lee Putnel in Ft Meade, FL, where he invited me to a Bible study. The following morning, I drove over two hours to meet him in Dade City. I had been preaching in my first full-time position for five months, but I felt a deep sense of inadequacy regarding my Bible knowledge. I had been fervently praying for God to provide me with what I needed to grow spiritually. During that first Bible study, I opened up to Brother Waldron about my feelings of inadequacy. To my surprise, he did not rebuke me! Instead, he offered to become my mentor and explained that he had some tools that could help me both immediately and in the long term, provided I committed to using them. Just as I began to feel immense gratitude, he admonished me to take our time and efforts together seriously. The tone was set, leading to seven of the most spiritually enriching years of my life! Through his teaching, example, encouragement, and nurturing, Brother Waldron challenged me to bring my best to the table consistently. I am eternally grateful for that! Moreover, he embraced my wife and children as family, enabling our collective growth in ways beyond measure.

Among the many things I cherish, I always knew I could rely on him for sound counsel during troubling circumstances. I was consistently amazed by his wisdom. On one occasion, after I remarked on how wise he was, he humbly responded that he was taking the information I shared and responding with spiritual principles from God’s Word that best fit the scenario. This revelation was an epiphany for me, and many similar moments left a profound impact.

After seven years of intense mentorship, Brother Waldron had to scale back due to health issues. By this time, he had become more than a mentor; he had become a father figure to me. I was still blessed to visit him for many years after, drawing on his wisdom and influence through close, personal contact. However, as his health declined, I felt a significant change in our dynamic and struggled mightily with this transition.

Among Remarkable Men
Moses was a remarkable man who influenced many in his generation, and his work continues to impact others. He had Joshua to assist him, and eventually, Joshua would lead God’s people into battle. Those years of working with Moses certainly prepared Joshua for such responsibility.

Elijah was another remarkable man whose influence remains significant. He prepared Elisha to carry on the prophetic work, and Elisha held Elijah in high esteem.

The Apostle Paul was yet another remarkable figure whose influence continues today. A large part of Paul’s work involved training Timothy to take care of what had been entrusted to him and to commit those teachings to faithful men who would, in turn, be able to teach others.

Bob Waldron is a remarkable man of our generation. His influence is deeply ingrained, and his work will continue to inspire many. He worked diligently to prepare others for battle, to take up the mantle, and to teach others!

Yet, there is another common thread among these examples that is paramount! Before Moses died, he commended the children of Israel, including Joshua, to the word of the LORD (Deut. 30:11-14). Before Elijah ascended to heaven, Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and Elijah guided Elisha to seek God’s will in the matter (2 Kings 2:9-11). Before his departure, Paul encouraged Timothy by directing him to the Lord and His Word (2 Tim. 1:6-7; 3:14-17).

In his efforts, Brother Waldron too pointed us to the Lord. Consider this quote from Bob and Sandra Waldron’s book, “Go Tell the Good News,” regarding 2 Timothy 3:14-17: “Here in Paul’s last letter, he makes one of the most inclusive, strongest affirmations of the inspiration of the scriptures to be found in the whole Bible. All scripture is inspired. Timothy, you have everything you need in order to be equipped for every good work. Paul would no longer be available to advise Timothy, but he had all the wisdom of God within his grasp. We, too, have that same word of God in our hands – with the same blessings it provided for Timothy. Let us remember to use it wisely.”

Before his passing, I had an opportunity to visit with Brother Waldron. And at that particular time, I was feeling very weak, grasping for more of his wisdom. Recognizing my situation, he shared words that I hold dear: “Don’t sell yourself short, nor underestimate your abilities. Use your knowledge. Grow your knowledge. Fulfill your potential!”

Brother Waldron, I will always cherish our friendship.

May God grant us all the strength to serve the Almighty, and our generation, to the best of our abilities (Acts 13:36).