CEDARVILLE, Ohio (BP) — The late Warren Wiersbe, a prolific author of more than 170 books, never seemed keen on writing a book with his grandson Dan Jacobsen, as Jacobsen tells it.

But after Wiersbe’s death in May of 2019, the family discovered a dusty manila file folder among the thousands of files Wiersbe left behind. Inside was a manuscript, 80% complete, perhaps begun in 2012 when Wiersbe was in his early 80s.

Jacobsen tells the story in a pair of podcasts hosted by Cedarville University Executive Director of Public Relations Mark D. Weinstein.

“I was pitching him book ideas all the time. To be totally honest, he did not seem to want to write a book with me,” Jacobsen told Weinstein, “mostly because …. He was focused. And he really felt this sense of calling for what God had told him to write next.”

His grandfather wanted to work with him, Jacobsen sensed, but not on the topics at hand.

With Wiersbe’s earthly race run, the dusty folder fell to Jacobsen.

At first glance, “it was kind of a mess,” Jacobsen said. “It was a little bit like the best of my grandfather’s writings. In 80 years he had cherry picked the absolute cream of the crop — his best illustrations, best quotes, best ideas — and he had tried to synthesize them all together.”

But at the same time, some of the writings seemed “like the diary of a mad man,” Jacobsen laughed. “And it’s just because it was a draft. It wasn’t in any shape to be published.”

It was Jacobsen’s chance to finally work on a book with his grandfather.

“My biggest fear was that I would insert something kind of clumsy that wouldn’t represent who he was or how he would say things,” Jacobsen told Weinstein, “and the greatest compliment the publisher (David C. Cook) gave me was, ‘vintage Wiersbe.’”

It took Jacobsen, a husband and father of three who pastors Heartland Community Church in Olathe, Kan., nearly 10 months to work up the courage to make a change to the manuscript, and another two-and-a-half years to complete the project. Wiersbe remains the sole author; Jacobsen is editor.

Jacobsen describes the completed devotional, “Becoming New: A 100-Day Journey of Transformation through God’s Word,” as beneficial for everyone from seasoned saints to those who accepted Jesus the night before. Weinstein’s Cedarville Stories podcasts featuring Jacobsen are available here.

“It truly is one of America’s most trusted expositors trying to accomplish one of what I think is the most gargantuan yet practical feats,” Jacobsen said, “distilling down seven decades of biblical reflection into what amounts to 55,000 words, or 100 day devotions.

“It is really like the capstone of all that he’s written. It’s all right here in these 200 and some pages. It’s really the heart he had for Jesus and wants us to know.”

Wiersbe’s words describe the book in the preface: “This is not a typical devotional book. It focuses on one theme — the daily transformation of your life and world through the truth of God given by the Holy Spirit of God… The emphasis is not only on learning the Word but also loving the Word and living it in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In advance of the book’s Nov. 5 release, Jacobsen will gift on Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. a copy of the book to Cedarville’s Warren and Betty Wiersbe Library and Reading Room, where it will join Wiersbe’s personal library he bequeathed to Cedarville months before his death. Jacobsen will sign copies of the book afterwards at the library in the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies.

Cedarville President Thomas White described Wiersbe as a blessing to the university.

“Dr. Wiersbe was a friend and supporter of our mission to proclaim the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ,” he said. “The Wiersbe library and reading room is a testament to this partnership.”

Cedarville posts on its website a short video message Wiersbe left for those using the library and reading room, memorializing Wiersbe’s sense of humor many have noted.

“These books are very close to my heart. I’m glad you want to read. I’m glad you want to learn,” Wiersbe said. “And I think you’ll find here something that will help you in your own personal life as a Christian and in your studying of the Word of God. So thanks for coming. And by the way, don’t walk off with the book.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)