Me: Wow, Prodigal! I didn’t know you knew Karen Abercrombie.
Prodigal: Yes, She played Miss Clara in the movie War Room. I got to meet her and was very excited!
Me: What was she like?
Prodigal: She was surprised to be taking a picture with a pig (I’m not sure why). She was nice and seemed to be a Godly woman.
Me: Well I was just reading a story about two other famous men.
James Montgomery Boice tells this story.
In 1899, two famous men died in America. The one was an unbeliever who had made a career of attacking the Bible and the Christian faith. The other was a Christian leader. Robert Ingersoll, after whom the famous Ingersoll lectures on immortality at Harvard University are named, was the unbeliever. He died suddenly and his death devastated his family. His body was kept in the home for several days because his wife could not bear to part with it; and it was finally removed only because the corpse was decaying and endangering the health of the family. Finally his body was cremated and the scene at the crematorium was so dismal that the national newspapers carried feature stories about it. When death came for Robert Ingersoll, there was no hope..only despair!
In that same year, evangelist Dwight L. Moody died, and his death was triumphant for himself and his family. Moody had been in poor health for some time, and his family had taken turns being with him. On the morning of his death his son, who was standing by the bedside, heard him exclaim, “Earth is receding; heaven is opening; God is calling.” You are dreaming, Father,” the son said. Moody answered, “No, Will, this is no dream. I have been within the gates. I have seen the children’s faces.”
For a while it seemed as if Moody was reviving, but he began to slip away again. He said, “Is this death? This is not bad; there is no valley. This is bliss. This is glorious.” By this time, his daughter was present, and she began to pray for his recovery. He said, “No, no, Emma, don’t pray for that. God is calling. This is my coronation day. I have been looking forward to it.” Shortly after that Mood was received into heaven. At the funeral the family and friends joined in a joyful service. They spoke. They sang hymns. They heard the words proclaimed, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is they victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Moody’s death was a part of that victory.
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Eudia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Philippians 4:1-5
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
