A couple of months ago, David and I were sharing about the Cycle of life by John Crawford, who mentored David.
“For many, winter of life is a time of fear and real dread. And well it might be – there is a chance that goodness and mercy might not follow us all the days of our life. However, winter – old age in a life lived for Christ, is a blessed event! Children – workers- souls for God have come from your life. Your grandchildren and great grandchildren in the faith will rise up and bless God because you came their way.”
When I shared with my prayer partners on David’s passing, here are some of what they wrote:
We were close in the university days. He followed me up as a new Christian.
He has been a key support throughout my life...much loved and valued for his wisdom and gifting of encouragement!
Dave was my group leader at Men's weekend c 1978 - my first gathering as a new Christian. Dave was so generous with his time and served the men with a cheerful demeanour. I soaked this in like a sponge! Great Nav!
Yes, he embodied so well the Navigator essentials of valuing the individual, imparting discipleship principles one to one, transparency with your own struggles , keeping the walk with Christ central...I still remember a message he gave about investing in eternity...so that means 3 things...investing in God, His Word and people...and Dave did all 3 things so well!
I heard the endearing stories from the children during the memorial service and I see generations!
David took delight in His Word till the end. He wrote: “We had good times in the Word and watched part of Chuck Missler's expository commentary on Genesis. We would like to do the same for Revelation now. We have a home group we are in. Currently we meet on a Wednesday evening. Just one couple in the group - us!😉”
David spent his life living out Matt 28:19-20 and experienced ‘I will be with you always’ till the end.
It was an ordinary Sunday. The children and the grandchildren were around the house. David sat and enjoyed- a picture of Psa 128:3: “Your wife is like a fruitful vine within your house; your children are like olive shoots around your table.”
Some of you have received a story from David on “The empty chair”- an old bed ridden man told the minister that someone suggested to him:
“Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Sit down in a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because he promised, 'I’ll be with you always.' Then just speak to him in the same way you’re doing with me right now.'
So the man tried it and liked it so much that he did it a couple of hours every day. He’s careful though because he is afraid if his daughter saw him talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send him off to the funny farm.
One evening, the daughter called and told the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
'Yes, he died in peace. This afternoon, Dad called me over to his bedside and told me he loved me and kissed me on my cheek. When I got back to his room an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do make of that?'
I wish we could all go like that. David knew the chair is never really 'empty'. No matter where we are, what we do, how we act, what we say, who we are with - He is always with us.
It is important that when we come to die, we have nothing to do but die.
God has stripped Dave of everything earthly to give him Everything in glory eternally!
We will miss David, for a little while.
Allen Tie
16.11.2022