Center for Biblical Theology and Eschatology
Death's Triumph
by Rev. Cornelius Hanko
During my ministry I had approximately two hundred
funerals. Many times I stood at the open grave with the bereaved family. There were also a
number of times that I stood at a deathbed, watching as a soul prepared to leave this
earthly house and slip away into eternity. I have also had the opportunity of walking down
the valley, as it were, with persons who had but a short time to live, until the moment
when they drew away into eternity. I was left behind, at times not a little envious. As I share some of these experiences with you, let me
assure you that there is nothing morbid about this. All I can say is that death is victory
for the saints. The hour of death is their Coronation Day. ------------------ I recall an occasion when the time of departure was
plainly drawing near. This man lay in a coma, seemingly no longer conscious of the affairs
of this life. Yet there came a moment when he began to mumble,
evidently talking to himself. Shortly thereafter he made motions with his hands, as if he
were brushing something aside. There upon he folded his hands and audibly prayed:
"Forgive us our many transgressions in Jesus' blood." Then his soul seemed to have come to rest, and soon it
departed to join the heavenly throng. "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where
is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ" (11 Cor.
15:55-57). ------------------ It was shortly after noon that I visited a young mother
who knew that the time of her departure was rapidly drawing near. She was very concerned as she complained, "I cannot
leave my family, these young children. What will happen to them?" I tried to assure her that God had always taken care of
them even until now, and would surely continue to do so in the future. In fact, He could
do it better than we ever are able. She asked me whether I would do all in my power to keep
an eye on them, and I assured her I would. What more could I say? That same day she peacefully entered into the Rest. "I had fainted, unless I had seen the
goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and
he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say on the Lord" (Ps. 27:13, 14). -------------------- This aged couple had seen many winters, had weathered
many storms, experienced many trials and afflictions of all sorts. They had suffered many
heartaches and griefs together, but had also experienced that the Almighty was their
Refuge. They knew what it was to be poor, but they also knew that the Lord provided in
every need. The time had come that they would experience the meaning
of the words, "... until death us do part." She stood at his bed and saw him gradually going deeper
into the valley of death, where she could no longer follow. As he breathed his last breath she said: "It is
hard to part. But God is good." " And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is
in thee" (Ps. 39:7). ------------------- A man 75 years old began through a chain of
circumstances to attend our services. When he was a young man he had come to America, but
had not bothered to take his church membership papers with him. In fact, he and his family
had not attended church all those years until the Lord brought him into our midst. Before long he desired to make confession of faith. He
said that he was deeply aware that he was a sinner and could not die without seeking peace
with God. A few years later I stood at his deathbed. I asked him:
"Is all well?" To which he answered: "I am going home." "... as a firebrand plucked out of the
burning" (Amos 4:11). -------------------- It was a few weeks before she died. She told us that she
felt she was dying. It was, she said, like a gradual falling. It seemed as if, as she
fell, a light shone, growing brighter and brighter. The light she saw was not an ordinary
light, like daylight or like a bright neon light, but far whiter, brighter. Then, she said, she heard some one calling her, urging
her to come back. She was reluctant to do so; but yet, the light faded, and when she
opened her eyes the doctor stood over her. He apparently was the one who had called to
her. A week or two later she did pass on into eternity. One
wonders whether she again saw the light that grew brighter, and this time did not fade
away. "And the city hath no need of the sun,
neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is
the light thereof" (Rev. 21:23). -------------------- I was called to the hospital one Sunday night. The nurse
asked whether I would come to quiet a woman who was greatly disturbed. That day the doctor had told her that she had only six
months to live. This came as a shock to her, because never before had she been sick or
seen a doctor, not even when she had her children. Now she really was not so sick, and yet
the doctor gave her these tidings. She simply did not believe it. From then on she had the problem of submitting to the
inevitable. It is true, that it took a struggle. Yet the amazing
fact is that the Lord is mighty and merciful to His children. At times she still tried to maintain that she was
getting better, but it was obvious that this was not the case. Gradually the wonder of grace became more and more
evident in her life. She became more submissive, more complacent. Would you believe that the last time I visited with her
she insisted on talking about nothing but heaven? The reason: "I'll soon be
there." And she was. The next Sunday it happened. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe
in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also" John 14:1-3). --------------------- She was a comparatively young girl who had the
responsibility of supporting her aged parents, with whom she lived. Suddenly she was
stricken with bone cancer, which was extremely painful. For some time her one concern was her parents. How will
they get along? Who will care for them? She wanted somehow to be spared for the sake of
her parents. Soon the excruciating pain demanded all her attention. A few weeks before she died I asked her: "If the
Lord were to perform a miracle, would you like to be made better?" Her answer was: "Oh no,I am so far now,I want to go
all the way." The Lord granted the desire of her heart and also cared for those who
were left behind. In fact, within a year they followed her into their everlasting abode. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto
me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them"
(Rev. 14:13). ------------------- This had been a God-fearing woman, whose walk was always
exemplary for her family and for all acquaintances. Now that her husband was retired she looked forward to a
few years of quiet life with him. But it was not to be. Soon it became evident that her
strength was failing. She seemed to suffer from no particular ailment, but she was,
nevertheless, fading away, so that before long she was completely bedridden. The time came when she and her family realized that the
Lord would soon take her home. She remained conscious, her mind was clear, and she
continued to speak of the blessed hope, even as her voice weakened. Then she closed her
eyes, to open them in glory. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of his saints" (Ps. 116:15). --------------------- Cancer is a dread disease that takes many to their
grave. It attacks the old, but it also attacks the young. It is no discerner of persons.
It takes also those who fill an active, even important place in the church and in God's
kingdom, as was the case with a young woman who called me aside one day to inform me that
the doctors had discovered cancer and had told her that she had a half year to live. Although this had come as quite a shock to her, she was
able to surrender herself to the way God was leading her. She spoke freely of God's
promises that can never fail. She patiently bore the suffering that was part of the
breaking down of this earthly house of our tabernacle as she looked forward to a house not
madewith hands, eternal in the heavens. She cherished the hope that never dies. By the power of a living faith the desire to live became
an ever stronger desire to be with the Lord, which is far better. Our God, who has begun a good work, will surely finish
it. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me in that day"
(II Tim. 4:7, 8a). ---------------------- A young girl had suffered all her life. The drawn lines
of pain and suffering were evident on her face even as she approached death. Yet when the Lord sent His angel to take her home, that
shadow of pain was lifted away. A smile came to her lips as her whole face seemed to light
up with heavenly peace and joy. Is it true that the dying sometimes get a glimpse of glory
as their soul departs to be with the Lord? We can only surmise. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"
(Rom..8:18). ---------------------- What shall I add to this? "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Heb. 11:16). "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and
edify one another, as also ye do" (I Thess. 4:11). =================== I Greet Thee, My Redeemer Sure I greet Thee, my Redeemer sure, I trust in none but Thee, Thou who hast borne such toil and shame And suffering for me Our hearts from cares and cravings vain And foolish fears set free Thou art the king compassionate, Thou reignest everywhere, Almighty Lord, reigh Thou in us, Rule all we have and are: Enlighten us and raise to heaven, Amid thy glories there Thou art the live by which we live; Our stay and strength's in Thee; Uphold us so in face of death, What time soe're it be, That we may meet it with strong heart, And may die peacefully. The true and perfedt gentleness We find in Thee alone; Make us to know Thy lovliness, Teach us to love Thee known; Grant us sweet fellowship with Thee, And all who are Thine own. Our hope is in none else but Thee, Faith holds Thy promise fast; Be pleased, Lord, to strengthen us, Whom Thou redeemed hast, To bear all troubles patiently, And overcome at last. Children of Eve and heirs of ill, To Thee Thy banished cry; To Thee in sorrow's vale we bring Our sighs and misery; We take the sinners' place and plead; Lord, save us, or we die. Look thou, our Daysman and High Priest, Upon our low estate; Make us to see God's face in peace Through Thee, our Advocate; With Thee, our Saviour, may our feet Enter at heaven's gate. Lord Jesus Christ of holy souls, The Bridegroom sweet and true, Meet Thou the rage of Anti-Christ, Break Thou his nets in two; Grant us Thy Spirit's help, Thy will In every deed to do. John Calvin, 1560
| Rev. Cornelius Hanko was the minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Including Hull, Iowa from 1929 to 1935, Oaklawn, IL. from 1935 to 1945, Manhattan, MT. from 1945 to 1948, First P.R.C. in Grand Rapids, MI. from 1948 to 1964, Redlands, CA. from 1964 to 1971, and Hudsonville, MI. from 1971 to 1977. Cornelius Hanko is an emeritus minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Rev. Hanko died peacefully surrounded by friends and family in 2005. His meekness, sympathy, and understanding are an example we should all strive to follow. This article was first published on January 1, 1994 in the Standard Bearer. |