Why I Can Say 'God Did Not 'Take' Rev. David Wilkerson'

Why God Did Not ‘Take’ David Wilkerson
April 29, 2011
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We lost a rare and wonderful treasure this week. Pastor and prophet, Rev. David Wilkerson was lost in a tragic auto accident in Texas. His Wife, Gwen, is in fair condition as I write this.

It is written with the greatest respect for his memory and his family’s mourning. And, his family is vast. His church in New York City, Time Square Church, and his global ministry to the bound and oppressed, Teen Challenge, makes for a vast multitude, too large to be numbered – family.

I was told by a very sincere Christian friend that God ‘took’ (killed) His servant, Rev. David Wilkerson, in the terrible automobile accident that occurred this week because His mercy for America was running out. Though my friend is sincere, their theology is locked into an archaic, Old Testament view of a vindictive God Who is releasing vengeance upon America because of her rebellion, etc., kind of like what happened to Sodom and Gmmorroah.

I do not write this article as a rebuttle, but in the defense of a revelation of Jehovah God that was manifested in the Son, Who went about doing good and healing all who were sick and oppressed of the devil. Jesus said that if you had seen Him, you had seen the Father: a perfect embodiment of Truth, Grace and Love.

To say that the God of all grace has been brought down to espouse human nature, such as becoming angry at New Orleans because they have been rejecting Him and sinking into gross darkness, is not proper doctrine or theology - a true revelation of Who He is and what He is like. The Bible, especially the New Testament, would show us a God Whose heart is broken over the sin, bondage and darkness that any portion of the world is under. You cannot apply the principles of First Corinthians 13 to such scenarios and still come away with a God Who is now sitting in judgment. Remember, He IS on a Throne - the Throne of Grace and Mercy.

Where we can explain some of the things that are happening in light of proper doctrine and theology is in the Church abdicating it's role and position of being salt, light and a penetrating influence of restraint, government and administration. All of creation is 'wondering' where are the Sons of God? Chaos ensues when a kingdom is not prevailing. When the Church refuses to adopt and employ it's delegated authority, the 'powers' and the 'principalities' of darkness will have free reign unaccosted.

It is also crystal clear that there are consequences regarding our treatment of Israel. However, it is NOT that God reacts, but that we, even as a Nation, came further away from the covering of God and, being left exposed, are susceptible to the renegade powers that can afflict and ruin unrestrained. But, that is NOT an issue of Jehovah God getting mad at man's estate or our Nation's condition and finally deciding to show us who is boss. That is an Old Testament, judgmental fire and brimstone that can work, on occasion, but is more fitting for the lukewarm, half-hearted Church rather than those who are lost without Christ.

Keep in mind that God is eternal and has experienced and is experiencing all of time, past, present and future, simultaneously and continually. In other words, long before we arrived, Father God had ‘seen’ and ‘observes’ the very worst of America’s soul and condition continually. Many well-meaning believers are vexed by the same conditions that they are witnessing that Father God has witnessed for eternity and in their vexation they project onto God the very same human aggravation and frustration and cry for vengeance.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that ALL of God’s righteous judgment was completely satisfied through the High Priestly Ministry and Sacrifice of His Son and the shedding of His blood. The ‘Cross’ satisfied the judgment and vengeance of God. Speaking prophetically, the Angels saw a fallen world, caste in darkness, and announced the introduction of a new dispensation and from the Heavens said on the occasions of the Savior’s birth, ‘and on Earth, peace and goodwill toward all men with whom God is now well pleased.’

Now that Christ’s ministry and sacrifice satisfied the heart of God, there is only ONE throne that affects Heaven and Earth and it is called the Throne of Mercy and Grace. The ‘Grace’ of God deals with legal assessments and judgments where a valuation is made and a person’s worthiness is based on the Merits of Christ. If God’s grace should ever be exhausted, and it can’t, then God’s Mercy kicks in. God’s Mercy is connected with His ‘Humanity’ if you will. In other words, because of Christ’s humanity and identification with out sufferings and frailties, if we ever exhaust God’s Grace and Favor, then Jesus identifies with our fallen condition and engages us as Advocate, Intercessor and Mediator.

If my Friend had not been an avid fan of Rev. David Wilkerson, he may have said that God ‘took’ Rev. Wilkerson because of some sin in his life. However, my Friend loves David Wilkerson, just as I do, and yet believes that God ‘took’ David Wilkerson from this Earth – that God Killed this powerful servant. Heres’s why my Friend is so wrong, though very sincere.

First, we are at the most momentous time the world has ever seen and witnessed where every worker is needed. The Bible tells us that the need for workers is so very great but the number of laborers does not match and are too inadequate in number. I cannot see God taking such a powerful and important prophetic voice out of this world.

Rev. David Wilkerson was a General in God’s army. His anointing, experience, wisdom, resources are needed now as never before. This is not the time for such an important voice to be silenced, silenced by the one who enlisted him into the service to be a prophetic voice in the first place.

Following along with the first point, the Bible tells us that the ‘Gifts’ and ‘Callings’ of God are irrevocable. These gifts, etc. are innate and are in human form, like a Prophet – of which I ascribe to Rev. David Wilkerson. It would go against this very principle of God, foundational to His nature and character, to recall Rev. Wilkerson from the field because He, God, has become fed up with the sins of the world.

Second, God is NOT mad at the sins of the world. God is mad at the sins of the Church. Jesus saw the ‘multitudes’ (representative of the peoples of the world) and was moved with compassion. The hard-line, Old Testament fire and judgment calls for judgment to fall but the Mercy and Grace of this dispensation sees the fallen state of Mankind and remembers the love of the Father that led the Son to shed His precious Blood on the Cross. It wasn’t His will that any should perish then, it is not His will that any should perish now. To those who are sick with and in sin, He remains the Great Physician willing and drawn to heal the darkest stains of sin on an individual life, state or nation.

Third, He is the Chief Shepherd. The Shepherd’s nature and disposition is not one of murdering, taking vengeance or taking a life – especially in such a terrible way. He, Christ, was the Chief Shepherd to one of His choice sheep – Rev. Wilkerson. It goes against everything paternal, maternal, benevolent and gracious to try to figure the Chief Shepherd in this light – ‘taking’ His servant home through a tragic accident such as this.

Imagine going to His wife, Gwen, and saying to Gwen Wilkerson or to his own flock at Times Square Church in New York City and tell them that ‘the Chief Shepherd wanted our dear Brother in Heaven with Him and decided to ‘take’ him.’ Imagine trying to explain that kind of a shepherd to a new born Christian or to a tenured saint. It goes against everything decent and humane not to mention Scriptural.

Fourth, would a parent commit such an act and it be called anything but murder? Parents have ‘taken’ their children, intentioally, in auto accidents, etc. and it was called homicide. How insane it is to try to frame the reputation of Father God with such a matte to put on public display. Friends, that’s not God, which would be a monster.

Fifth, maybe it was simply an accident. Maybe Father God STILL so loves the entire world and America and the most sinful cities in America that He sends His Son with a message of hope for the most hopeless and reprobate. Maybe Father God weeps when a hurricane or tornadoes strike a region and countless suffering sets in. Maybe Father God ‘knew’ in advance how terrible our moral condition would deteriorate yet chose to send His Son and His messengers with a word of hope and salvation where there is no hope or sense of need for salvation.

Lastly, I am so very open and have no problem with America experiencing trials and tribulations because of how we handle Israel. There is a blessing promised for blessing them and there is a curse promised for cursing Israel. However, God does NOT react. He can lift His Hand, withdraw the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit to a degree, but He will not, cannot, get mad and react because the work on Calvary completely satisfied the righteous judgment of God for this dispensation. When Jesus said ‘it is finished,’ it (the righteous demands, vengeance and judgment of God) was complete.

It satisfies our own human nature to preach about the wrath of God but I must say that that message does not spring from the Well of Living Waters but from a soulish area of consternation. The message that is flowing from the Fountain of Living Waters is a message like the one the Woman of Samaria heard at the well in Sychar. The message that gives life is the same message that was given to the woman caught in the act of adultery, ‘go your way and sin no more.’ The message springing from the Fountain of Living Water sees a multitude, even a sin-ladened, corrupt and despicable lot and longs to introduce them to this life-changing Resource with the most compassion and sorrow for suffering humanity a person can have.

The beginning of the New Testament opens with the message of John the Baptist which was ‘repent.’ Repentance is still demanded and needed by each and everyone who comes into understanding of their own sinful condition. Following the work of John and beginning with the ministry of Jesus, THE message became and continues to be the message of the Kingdom of God.

No, God did NOT ‘take’ Rev. David Wilkerson. It was an accident.
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Pastor Freddie Steel – Life Church of Chicagoland – 6600 W 127th Street – Palos Heights, IL 60463 – revfts@usa.net