Present with the Lord

Yesterday David Wilkerson and his wife were in a head-on crash in Cherokee County, Texas.  Gwen was injured but Pastor Wilkerson was killed.  Absent from the body, present with the Lord.  As a servant of God, visionary, mover and shaker, David Wilkerson was a lion among cubs.  Even many who've heard of the wonderful work of Teen Challenge to rescue and serve drug addicts, do not know the Spirit-driven life of the evangelist who founded it.  Way back in the late 1950's, he brought the hope of the gospel to hardened gang members like Nicky Cruz.  (Grab a copy of Cross & the Switchblade.)

In 1987 this small town Pennsylvania native founded Time Square Church in New York City, today a church of thousands.  Someone once said last words are lasting words and you might well find that to be the case in his final post of a daily devotional on the World Challenge website.  

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.  That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”  Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.