Bill is infectious. ’Tis why standing over him while he peacefully lay on his deathbed, in the presence of his wife, his daughter-in-law, and me (the least of all in the moment) was so profound. He’s infectious in the most admirable of ways. People have always been attracted to him because of his charisma, something that is all too often counterfeited. I know the truth about its source, though, which makes times like this all the more meaningful, all the more reflective.
As I write this, Bill is dying. His body is riddled with cancer. When he was still able to make it to church, he’d quip, “Only I could come back from the doctor’s with two cases of cancer!” And then he’d smile his patented smile. You see, Bill understands that death is a promotion. Being the good man of God that he is, his only admitted concern is for the welfare of his wife of over a half a century. Even then, he catches himself, “I know that God will provide for Lois.” You can see clearly that his faith is real. What a magnificent display of grace and dignity (let us not forget that this kind of dignity is reserved for children of God).
For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord
— for we walk by faith, not by sight —
we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
— 2 Corinthians 5:4-9
As we stood there talking, Lois intimated that she had been reading this passage over and over again for the sake of encouragement. Not surprisingly, the Spirit has led me to contemplate this same passage in my own studies. The timing is divine. The Lord’s reminding us that, for we believers, our stations in life are confirmed by the love we have for Him and for others (Matthew 22:36-40).
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
— 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
At the end of Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians, after expounding upon the nature of persecution a believer in Christ faces daily, he concludes by saying something that Bill doesn’t just believe, but lives out, as an example and a witness for Christ, “as having nothing yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Bill is one of the richest people I know, yet he lives in a humble abode, built by his son, not far from his church, our church. If he were co-authoring this blog with me now he’d likely paraphrase what James wrote, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).
Whenever Bill speaks about life, people listen, not because he waxes poetic about this or that philosophy, but rather because he possesses that most valuable thing which all mortals desire, a “living hope” realized through new life in Christ Jesus.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
— 1 Peter 1:3-9
I’m going to miss Bill. I already do. But my desire to celebrate right now may be greater than it has ever been. Like I said, Bill is just one of those guys you can’t forget. His life has been a gift from God to the rest of us. It’s as if God, in eternity past, said to Himself, “I’m going to insert this soul into humanity’s timeline right here, where all of these other children of mine can behold it, treasure it, reflect upon it, and love it dearly.” Bill’s life gives us perspective. And as the Spirit’s been teaching my congregation for years now, perspective is everything.
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
— 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
I don’t believe in elevating one person’s life over another’s, but in Bill’s case, I don’t mind sharing my adoration with you. Maybe you, too, will be encouraged. My only sadness in any of this is that many of you have never met him, enjoyed his person, and beheld his love for our Lord. My consolation, within my presently warmed heart, is knowing that in just a little while, we believers will have the privilege of spending time with him, for all of eternity.
Until then, let us rejoice. Let us celebrate a brother whose life has been a gracious gift from God. And may we reflect upon every heavenly promotion this way. For our God is an impartial god, affording each of us the time and space to encourage, to be encouraged, and to hope of such things.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
