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True Success
George W. Truett
George W. Truett (May 6, 1867 – July 7, 1944) was an American preacher and pastor whose ministry within the Southern Baptist Convention shaped evangelical Christianity across five decades, renowned for his eloquence and leadership. Born in Clay County, North Carolina, to Charles Levi Truett, a farmer, and Mary Kimsey, he was the seventh of eight children in a rugged mountain family. Largely self-educated, he taught school at 19 before moving to Texas in 1889, where he converted in 1890 under B.H. Carroll’s preaching at a Baptist revival, later attending Baylor University (B.A., 1897) and its theological seminary (D.D., 1900). Truett’s preaching career began with his ordination in 1890 at Grayson County’s Crooked Creek Church, followed by a transformative 47-year pastorate at First Baptist Church of Dallas (1897–1944), growing it from 700 to over 7,000 members with sermons blending gospel fervor and practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1927–1930) and the Baptist World Alliance (1934–1939), he preached globally, including a famous 1920 sermon on religious liberty from the U.S. Capitol steps. His writings, like We Would See Jesus (1915), amplified his voice. Married to Josephine Jenkins in 1894, with whom he had three daughters—Jessie, Mary, and Georgia—he passed away at age 77 in Dallas, Texas.
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In this sermon, the preacher reassures the audience that God will be with them throughout their lives, even in the face of death. He promises to make their path beautiful and fill their ears with music. The preacher emphasizes that there is no need to fear death, as God will be there waiting and will personally come to guide them. He also highlights the importance of putting trust in Jesus Christ as our advocate and attorney, who will forgive, save, and take care of us. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that true success comes from recognizing and following the will of God.
Sermon Transcription
Now to go against him means that you're not succeeding, that you're not succeeding, but he is success. Success is recognizing the will of God and trying to do it the best you can. He doesn't succeed, who forgets that? He never banks for a gold, he doesn't succeed, who forgets that? Success! Your success is the phantasm of success, the sarcasm of success, utter futility, defeat, if you're leaving the Lord out of your plans. He wants to be your master and then he says, I'll turn your life into a great triumph scene. If you're in the world 40 or 50 years or up to 70 or 80 or even reach the century mark, I'll make the flowers to bloom in your path, I'll make the music to echo in your ears, I'll make your heart to join in the glorious chorus of music to the effect that God's grace is sufficient for you. And then when the time comes for you to pass from the earthly sphere to the land beyond, I'll be there at the depot of death waiting for you. And I'll come by you myself, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. You need to be afraid about when or where or how you'll go. The automobile may get you, the wreck may get you, the illness may get you, but remember, whenever the time comes I'll be at the depot for you and I myself will come by your cross and there'll be no trouble. And then in the land beyond, when all are assembled before the bar of Christ for final reckoning, I'll be there to take the place and to make the defense for everyone who put his trust in me. I used to be when a lad frightened well-nigh to death at the thought of that judgment day of our Lord, as he sits upon his throne and before him shall be gathered all nations. And we shall make our account one by one to that great and omniscient judge. I used to terrorize beyond words. No more of that now. I put my case in my attorney's hands. My attorney is Christ. If any man sin, we have an advocate, an attorney, with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. I put the case in my attorney's hands. Manage it, I can't manage it. Take care of me, I can't take care of myself. Save me, I can't save myself. Keep me, I can't keep myself. And he answers back, I'll forgive and I'll save and I'll guide and I'll keep and I'll be with you living and I'll take care of you dying and I'll take care of the obvious judgment. And then we'll live together forever in the house of life above. Oh, this wonderful, wonderful heritage we have in Christ.
True Success
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George W. Truett (May 6, 1867 – July 7, 1944) was an American preacher and pastor whose ministry within the Southern Baptist Convention shaped evangelical Christianity across five decades, renowned for his eloquence and leadership. Born in Clay County, North Carolina, to Charles Levi Truett, a farmer, and Mary Kimsey, he was the seventh of eight children in a rugged mountain family. Largely self-educated, he taught school at 19 before moving to Texas in 1889, where he converted in 1890 under B.H. Carroll’s preaching at a Baptist revival, later attending Baylor University (B.A., 1897) and its theological seminary (D.D., 1900). Truett’s preaching career began with his ordination in 1890 at Grayson County’s Crooked Creek Church, followed by a transformative 47-year pastorate at First Baptist Church of Dallas (1897–1944), growing it from 700 to over 7,000 members with sermons blending gospel fervor and practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1927–1930) and the Baptist World Alliance (1934–1939), he preached globally, including a famous 1920 sermon on religious liberty from the U.S. Capitol steps. His writings, like We Would See Jesus (1915), amplified his voice. Married to Josephine Jenkins in 1894, with whom he had three daughters—Jessie, Mary, and Georgia—he passed away at age 77 in Dallas, Texas.