David Wilkerson (1931-2011), requiescat in pace

David Wilkerson, the Protestant evangelist best known for his best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade (1963; 50 millions copies in print!), was killed in a car accident yesterday in Texas; he was 79. His wife, Gwen, and the driver of the tractor trailer that Wilkerson ran into have been hospitalized.

I read The Cross and the Switchblade as a kid (and watched the 1970 movie, starring Pat Boone), and it certainly made me think more deeply about what it means to be a truly committed Christian. Wilkerson also wrote and spoke quite a bit about his gloom-and-doom end-times beliefs (many based on his claimed 1973 vision about the downfall of the U.S.), and he, like Tim LaHaye and Co., believed that the Catholic Church was a key player in the coming one world church that will deceive many, etc. In this regard, he was apparently an old-school dispensationalist. Obviously, I disagree with many things that Wilkerson believed. But in looking at his blog, I was struck by this post—his very last—made yesterday just hours before he died:

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, "You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen" (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan's hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: "Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted."

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: "Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don't quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn't pay!"

Even questioning God's existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, "I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain."

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

Amen to that. More here. May God have mercy on the soul of David Wilkerson.