Johnny Died Well

I can remember as a child my nightly prayer was this:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my Soul to keep;

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my Soul to take.

 

Frankly, that is a scary prayer my parents taught me to pray! There were some nights I did not want to go to sleep! I was afraid of dying. I can remember one morning I woke up and saw my father quietly smoking his pipe, but he was also crying. I asked what was wrong. He told me my Grandpop had died in his sleep. I did not want to go to sleep ever again.

Fear of death can haunt and intimidate us all our living days, or we can put an end to it with our total confidence and trust in God. The spirit of fear can become a way of life for us. It will rule us like a cruel despot and keep us from realizing all the joy God intended us to have in the days of our lives. Paul wrote to Timothy, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Years ago, I had a member of my church in the hospital. I was his pastor, but he was also my brother and friend. Johnny said to me, "Pastor, do you remember how angry I was when I learned that I had cancer? But God used my cancer to teach me many things and to draw me closer to Him than I have ever been.” God did not cause Johnny’s cancer, but he came to Johnny and poured out blessing upon blessing that he might never have received otherwise. “Pastor, I realize that, as a Christian, I have nothing to fear, not even my death.” Wow, what a blessing for him to find the strength promised in the Bible is a reality for him now!

I don’t think I will ever forget the night Johnny died. The hospital contacted me to tell me that Johnny’s death was imminent, and his family was on their way. We were standing around Johnny holding hands and I was praying.

Johnny, opened his eyes and asked, “Pastor can you lead us in some hymns?” So, we began to sing with a holy hush. We didn’t want to disturb the other patients, so I asked his daughter to shut the door. Soon a nurse came and asked if we could keep the door open because the other patients were having a hard time hearing. I started a hymn again for the fourth time, Johnny liked it. I stepped out into the hall and felt as if I had stepped into a church. All up and down the hall were patients, visitors, and nursing staff singing the hymns. I stepped back into the room and Johnny asked me if we could sing his favorite hymn. I knew he wanted us to sing How Great Thou Art. Johnny was singing along with us then we got to the last verse.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

and there proclaim: "My God, how great thou art!"

Then we got to the refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art! 1

 

Johnny had stopped singing. There was a peaceful look on his face, and I knew he was with Jesus.

You and I may never be martyred, as was Stephen, for the cause of Christ. Our death may come, not by stoning, but perhaps cancer like my friend Johnny, or a heart attack like my father, violence, accident, or some other unknown. But if we live like Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, we can also die like him, forgiving all wrongs done to us and in fearless confidence simply "fall asleep."

John Wesley came home from preaching one day and, seeing his brother Charles feeling low and discouraged about the work, said, "Keep on preaching. Don’t give up! OUR PEOPLE DIE WELL!"

Image by Freepik