Even in Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show is a popular American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968.  The show continues to be shown in syndication today.  In the series, Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated – often in a humorous and entertaining way – by an inept but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and a young son, Opie (Ron Howard), and other residents of Mayberry.

The inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry is Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Andy Griffith's hometown.  Due to the success and notoriety of the television show, "Mayberry" has been used as a term for both idyllic small town life and for rural simplicity (for both good and ill).

Mt. Airy, North Carolina, recently made headline news.  The headline read,

"Man Charged With Killing 4 in Mayberry Model Town."

On Sunday, November 1, four men were murdered in Mt. Airy.  They were shot in the shadow of a water tower that says, "Welcome to Mount Airy" and has a picture of Griffith and "Opie."

Steve Higginbotham laments that in incidences such as these, we face the harsh reality that even the "town that is supposed to be the model of 'small town America,' is not immune from the influences of the world."

The truth is that NONE of the cities and towns of the world – as well as the lives of their inhabitants – is exempt from problems.....  

The GREATEST problem in the world is SIN.  Sin separates us from God and from all that is good, right, and holy.  Everyone in the world has sinned: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

But the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel is that God loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).  In His death, Jesus paid the price for our redemption from sin (Ephesians 1:7).  Through Jesus, we can be saved from our sins!

Jesus will save those who: put their trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin 
in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  His atoning blood will continue to cleanse those who continue to follow Him as a way of life (1 John 1:7).

People all over the world have a problem with sin – even in Mayberry!  But everyone in the world has the opportunity to be saved in Christ.  Jesus will save those who trust and obey Him.

Won't YOU? 

David A. Sargent, Minister