Ernie Spiers, May 28, 1946 to January 7, 2012[/caption]
The LSU Christian Student Center had a homeless man living in its hallways for several years. He started out visiting the building in order to receive counseling from the church’s onsite licensed counselor. From counseling, to friendship, to a brother in Christ, Ernie Spiers, former bar owner and the biggest LSU fan you will ever meet, became a fixture at the LSU CSC.
Ernie would make sure girls got safely to their cars after a late night of studying. He was honorary night watchman and served as a listening ear to the students who griped about their professors, wrestled with financial burdens, and struggled to get a certain grade. He would later ask them how a test went or encourage them with a word of wisdom gleaned from a long, hard life before coming to know Christ.
At his memorial service in January 2012, preachers, former students, counselors, and friends shared special memories and funny stories. Their very presence was an honor to his life and a testimony to family in Christ.
But one of the most important moments, for me, at the memorial service, was when we sang Ernie’s favorite song – the one he always requested on Sunday nights for college worship: Victory in Jesus.
At that moment, Ernie was tasting true Victory in Jesus and, in his honor, I will leave you with the words to that song.
Victory in Jesus
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.
Chorus
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.
Chorus