Few sad events in my life have struck me as hard as the December 11, 1995, death of Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen, my teacher, mentor, and friend. I had long known of his congenital heart defect and his increasing health problems. But I had seen him, by the grace of God, weather many physical storms over the years. Now, however, God in His all-wise providence has called Greg home to glory.

As a believer in the sovereign Christ of Scripture whom Greg loved and whose will he vigorously promoted I have to remind myself that Paul's testimony in Philippians 1 has two sides, both being glorious. In applying Paul's comments to Greg's untimely departure, my immediate thoughts and hopes were on the one side: to remain in the flesh is more needful for you (v. 24). Greg's continuing ministry had been so significant in my own personal spiritual growth and pastoral ministry and not just mine but many, many others. Consequently, I had to struggle to recognize the greater truth for Greg himself: to be with Christ is far better (v. 23). Greg has now heard those glorious words of Christ: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."