In the year 1899, two famous men died in America. One was a nonbeliever who had made a career of debunking the Bible and arguing against Christian doctrines. The other was a Christian. Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, after whom the famous Ingersoll lectures on immortality at Harvard University are named, was the nonbeliever. He died suddenly, his death coming as an unmitigated shock to his family. The body was kept in the home for several days because Ingersoll’s wife could not bear to part with it; it was finally removed because the corpse was decaying and the health of the family required it. At length, the remains were cremated, and the display at the crematorium memorial was so dismal that some of the scene was picked up by the newspapers and communicated to the nation at large. Ingersoll had used his extraordinary intellect to deny the resurrection, but there was no hope when death came. His relatives and friends received his departure as an uncompensated tragedy.
In the same year, the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody died, but his death was triumphant both for himself and his family, Moody had been declining for some time, and the family had taken turns being with him. On the morning of his death, his son, standing by the bedside, heard him exclaim, “Earth is receding; heaven is opening; God is calling.” “You are dreaming, Father,” the son said. Moody answered, “No, Will, this is no dream. I have been within the gates. I have seen the children’s faces.” It seemed as if Moody were reviving for a while, but he began to slip away again. He said, “Is this death? This is not bad; there is no valley. This is bliss. This is glorious.” By this time, his daughter was present, and she began to pray for his recovery. He said, “No, no, Emma, don’t pray for that. God is calling. This is my coronation day. I have been looking forward to it.” Shortly after that, Moody was received into heaven.
At the funeral, the family and friends joined in a joyful service. They spoke. They sang hymns. They heard these words proclaimed: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:55-57).
Moody’s death was a part of that victory.I do not mean to imply that the death of every Christian is equally glorious. Not all feel the force of these doctrines in the moment of their homegoing. But many do. Death can be victorious for a Christian. There is no hope apart from our Lord’s resurrection.
From: Foundations of Christian Faith – James Boice