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An Inspiring
Experience |
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(Faith & Victory : June 1964) |
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I wish to say in regard to David Madden and his sickness and death,
that it was my privilege to be at his bedside during the last 36
hours of his life and it was an inspiring experience. David was a
man who had the victory in the face of severe sickness and even
death. He had the victory all the way and it seemed God just
especially prepared him for the ordeal of death.
I, with Troy Meek, visited him first on Friday before his death the
following Tuesday morning. I saw he was a very sick man and I said
to him: "David, how is your faith?" He answered that he felt his
faith was all right and he was not conscious of any defect in his
faith. Then I said: "Well, how is your courage?" He answered that
his courage was good and he was not the least bit discouraged. Then
I said: "Then, how is your consecration?" He answered that it was
good, real good. He said he had never been more consecrated to God
in his life than he was right then. Then he added that he felt he
understood more about God and man than he ever had before.
I was holding meeting in Enid, Okla. so returned there for service
that night. On Sunday afternoon I was called to come again to his
bedside as he had become very critical. Several other ministers were
there that afternoon and I went in answer to the call and joined
them in the battle. I found David with the same faith, courage and
victory that he had expressed to us on Friday. I continued with him
from then on until he went to live with Jesus early Tuesday morning.
On Monday morning he was feeling quite badly following a chill in
the after part of the night and we had prayer with him. When we had
finished praying he raised up in the bed and waved his arm and said:
"It's a wonderful thing to be on victory's side. If my folks call or
anyone else calls to ask about me this morning, just tell them I
have the victory."
He affirmed his faith in God and said if he died he would die
trusting God and that is just what he did. And I call that the
greatest victory there is when one can graciously die in the
triumphs of the living faith. I do not call this a lost battle at
all. I just say with the poet, "Life's battles fought and the
victory won; He shouts from time to eternity."
Let us all buckle on the armor a little tighter and press on a
little more earnestly to gain the coveted prize.
-Ostis B. Wilson |
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