On May 15, 2014 Don Pfleger departed this life. He was without question one of the best men I have ever known. If I was forced to choose one quality that I admired the most about Don it would be his humility. A man who, according to human wisdom, should have had much to be prideful about simply was not. I have seen him withstand withering verbal public assaults upon his character and actions without saying a word in return. I have seen him teach complicated theological truths that were difficult to grasp without ever sensing that he was trying to force his own views onto other people. I have been behind closed doors with Don in highly sensitive and potentially contentious meetings and never did I get the impression that he was trying to throw his weight around in order to arrive at the decision he desired. In all of these instances the humility of this incredible man of God has stood out to me in stark relief over the years.
And what a span of years they were. Don watched me attempt to bull my way through life as an ignorant teenager. He provided wisdom to my future wife and I as we prepared for the creation of our marriage. He counseled me to be faithful as I contemplated the destruction of that marriage due to my own selfishness. He engaged me on a deeply intellectual level through four years of exhaustive classes on theology. He bared his soul to me in small group meetings, never hesitating to display his own weaknesses. He showed trust in me by asking me be an intern with the Elders of Daniels Bible Church. He challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and minister through teaching the word of God. Through all of this I have continued to sense that Don was deeply interested in my life and was coaching me from the sidelines. He once said to me, in reference to the Christian life; "You are allowed to stumble but if you ever fall I'm going to kick you in the seat of the pants."
This type of challenging yet loving interaction characterized the impact Don had on my life. And as I drove home from work after hearing that he had passed away an amazing thought occurred to me.
Hebrews chapter 11 takes the reader through a whirlwind tour of men and women through the ages who lived by and were known for their faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. It reads like a who's who of the Old Testament. All of these people gained approval from God through the faith He had provided to them. Yet in their lifetimes they did not receive what was promised because that promised glorification is not complete until all those who are to be saints of God are adopted into His family. What this means is that we, every authentic disciple of Christ, are joined with these giants of faith in completing the gospel growth that God has ordained for us.
The Apostle Paul pictures it throughout his letters as a great race to be run and finished. In this Mediterranean culture steeped in Greek Olympics and Roman chariot races Paul used the symbol of a race to picture the Christian life. The concept of persevering through trials is symbolized by a runner continuing to run in spite of pain and fatigue experienced in the body. Finishing the race represents our glorification and completion in being made into the likeness of Christ. And as it relates to my thought, all of those people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 are in the stands as former runners, cheering us on as we stumble, pant for breath, complete laps, keep on running, and ultimately finish our own race. Hebrews 12:1 explains it perfectly: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
The thought that struck me the other day was this; Don is in that cloud now! He is a part of the great assembly of witnesses that is cheering for us and exhorting us to keep running no matter the cost. He is in the stands while we who are alive and remain are tasked with carrying on the legacy left by him and all the other saints throughout history who have preceded us. Just as he did in physical life Don is, in physical death, still encouraging, warning, challenging, and guiding us. The only difference is that now, instead of doing it through spoken word he is doing it through our memories of him. And although we can no longer hear him with our physical ears, God's word makes it clear that he is still very much cheering us on.
2 Corinthians 4:17 refers to this life and the troubles it carries as "momentary, light affliction." In no time at all in the grand scheme of eternity this life will be over. Don, I see the finish line. I'm not to the end of my race yet and I don't know how long it will take to get there. But I will see you "soon" dear friend. I salute you.
