John F. Walvoord Memorial Service - J. Vernon McGee

on behalf of the Wolford family in Dallas Theological Seminary I want to welcome you this morning to this additional memorial service for our beloved Chancellor emeritus colleague mentor and friend dr. John F Wofford Carl Sandburg the lincoln biographer said that you can't measure the height of a tall tree or the true stature of a great man until it or he has fallen well I would both agree and disagree with mr. Steinberg Sandburg I've stood beneath the tall California redwood trees marveled at their unmeasured height for over three decades I worked alongside dr. bovered and was able to measure at least in part his stature as dr. Walberg was greatly gifted as an administrator many times I watched as he analyzed problems broke them into manageable parts and found solutions he was endowed with an abundant supply of energy and used it without reserve to carry out his vision of what he felt the seminary should become I often remarked to my colleagues that he could outwork any two or three of us dr. Wahlberg was above all else a man of faith he exemplified what it meant to walk by faith in the face of heavy pressures often financial I was later to face some of these pressures and was often reminded of his words I do what I can and then I trust God when I visited dr. mrs. Warren in the hospital he greeted me hello Donna he rarely called me that I responded hello dr. John I never called him that he said I want to go to heaven but the process is tough God in His grace shortened the process and took him home he is absent from the body at home with the Lord where he affirms with Paul the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed to us yes dr. Walvoord is in heaven where everyone calls him John my contact with dr. John probably predates that of anyone on campus today for I enrolled as a student in 1937 when dr. Walvoord was in his second year on the faculty one of the first courses that I had from him was the course in pneumatology in which he was compiling the material that became a part of that widely influential book that he authored having come from a conservative college I had been exposed to Bible and a doctrine but to come onto campus was to enter an entirely new sphere and to be exposed to dr. Walvoord was an enriching experience there are things from that first exposure that I remember and I've still impressed me first his commitment to the word he trusted it he loved it he rested in its authority and its infallibility he was a man of the book then I was impressed with the unusual way in which he could put Scripture with Scripture to take individual passages like pieces of a puzzle relate them to each other put them together to display the big picture he put the word of God to one could not sit in his classes and not be moved by his love for commitment to devotion to the person of Christ what a moving experience to have him introduce us to that person we recognised his gift his administrator and reference has already been made to that when I was here the faculty had about 10 members most of them part-time dr. Walvoord exercising his unusual gifts as an administrator has built this large and strong faculty the buildings that came on campus under his oversight again testified to his gifts as an administrator but as significant and important as that was beyond that was his abilities in the scripture to put the scripture together unify it solidify it to give us that big picture I remember it was at that time he announced his engagement to Geraldine Lundgren that almost took us by surprise for he's had so demonstrated his scholarly pursuits we never dreamed that he would be diverted from that to pursue matters of the heart and I remember when he was taking us through the fees 5 in ecclesiology and it was graphically describing the glory and the beauty and the perfection of the bride that the Father in heaven was preparing for the bridegroom then there's a moment of silence and he looked off into space and said the perfect bride has not yet arrived but she is coming in that context he could not understand why the class dissolved in uproarious laughter in a moment it dawned on him what he had said and he blushed while I thank God for the gifts that God gave to us in this one above all I thank him for the ability that was given to put the Scriptures together as a unit to execute him expose at them and apply them so that we were not involved in isolated parts but in the whole thank God for dr. John one of his favorite songs and of the communicable attributes of God dr. Walvoord reflected his God in that attribute of his life and talking with mrs. Wolverton the family in the days surrounding dr. Waldridge departure they wanted you to know something of dr. Walvoord life away from the spotlight of leadership and off of the plat form of ministry it was a man of private interests and personal integrity in terms of his private interests they included sports electricity and antique cars during his Wheaton college football days he said they didn't win many games but they won a lot of moral victories in their losses and I had just recently learned about his skills in rewiring old churches in addition to his own home as well as rebuilding antique cars his wife and Johnny his son told me about the restoration of a 34 Ford a 36 coupe a 1957 Corvette and a rolls-royce and on one particular day when all of the young bucks of the neighborhood were milling around working they couldn't figure out how to get the block back in the car and so dr. Walvoord came in asked what do they need it he went over picked it up and put it in the car he had strengths we didn't know one of the great memories of mrs. Wolverton dr. Walvoord wiring abilities she told in chapel upon his retirement from the presidency a few years ago and then rehearsed it for us the day after he went to be with his Lord when alumni couple had been given a garbage disposal for Christmas and had tried to install it and couldn't finish the job and dr. Wahlberg was going to have a series of meetings in their church so Peggy said let's wait till dr. mrs. Wolverton come he'll be able to fix it he did in an appreciation Peggy the wife gave them one of her oil paintings mrs. Wahlberg thanked her for the picture and said every time we look at this picture we'll think of you Peggy responded every time we use our disposal we'll think of you I love that story and having had the privilege of sharing in ministry with the Lawford's off campus as well as on one of the traits I love about them is their sense of humor they love the Lord and they love each other and they love other people and it shows it was also a man of private integrity along with his interest dr. Walvoord integrity can be illustrated in three memories surfaced by the family first his son John he stated that he could never remember a time in the morning hours that he couldn't find his father on his knees dr. Ward was a spiritual man a man of Prayer mrs. Wolverton a tribute to her husband on that retirement from the seminary presidency made all of us husbands shrink to take notice and sit up when she shared her Thanksgiving for the spiritual leadership of her husband in her life she said every day he was home they read the Bible and prayed together such private integrity was the validating foundation for his public impact and another son James Wofford recounted to chaplain Brian and pastor Don Geiger from Redeemer Bible Church and to me when said he was recently asked what he wanted most in life and James says I want to be like my father I want to be like my father there is an apparent alive who could hope for more well dr. Wahlberg has all the blanks filled in on his eschatology chart I could only speculate but I suspect he didn't have too many Corrections to make I'm grateful for the conferences in which we shared together the conversations that I have enjoyed in his living room these past couple of years and in the hospital for just those few days we will all miss our leader and friend dr. Charlie Dyer senior vice president of education and provost at Moody Bible Institute wrote dr. Ward a letter to pod hearing of his hospitalization and ended he makes this appropriate statement those of us who love Dallas seminary owe so much to you for your years of faithful service and those of us who have served in leadership appreciate even more the role you played in keeping the school on track spiritually and theologically your example of faithfulness and your passion for theological soundness have marked my life and ministry and to that I think we could all say a hearty amen Greg Hatteberg had the idea and we left dr. Wolper chair vacant today something that they did at Moody when Rydell Moody passed away this is the only day we'll leave it empty so faculty don't spare sit in it please but we remember his absence of faithful attendance and encouraging presence even in his years of retirement some of his favorite passages are on the back of your program will you turn there with me to family that faced challenges and loss from one son physical challenges with others they've not been without their suffering Isaiah 43123 has been an encouragement would you read it with me fear not for I have redeemed thee I have quality by Dane thou art mine when thou passes through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned neither shall the flame Kindle upon thee for I am THE LORD thy God the Holy One of Israel by saviour if you've been in chapel in these last few years every time dr. Walvoord speaks he had a few themes that he rehearsed for us not the least of which was the need to walk by the spirit listen to Galatians 5:16 a fresh walk in the spirit and you'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh service like this would not be right without first Thessalonians for his love of the doctorate of his preaching of it in his practice in application of his life the expectation of the rapture would you read it with me but I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep that you sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord Himself so descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord wherefore comfort one another with these words and when asked to sign a book give his autograph most often the following passage would be listed under his name revelation 22:20 which was his expectation his longing and ought to be ours he which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly amen even so come Lord Jesus I would like to ask the Walford family and extended family to please stand for us to express our love to you the only way we know how to do it in a place like this dr. Richard H Sumi was the chaplain at the seminary for a number of years unfortunately they occurred following my time here as a student or I always loved dr. su me and I especially love the passionate way that he sang the hymns and often quoted some of them background history of many of them I returned to this school about 11 years after graduating and we were celebrating our Jubilee year back in 1974 doc Sumi was the chaplain at the time and I remember he took the occasion in a packed Chapel like we have today to give the colorful background of the Charles Wesley him and can it be that I should gain one of dr. soomi's favorite hymns this grand 18th century piece written by this writer of thousands of grand hymns Oh soon he began his explanation of the background by making a comment I'll never forget - all of us who were sitting in the in the gathering he said now please remember there were giants in the land back in that era when the chapel ended I found myself walking alongside dr. su me out of the chapel and I was lamenting the absence of giants in the land today and he stopped and we had gotten to the corner down there turning toward Vinson and he said no that isn't true look up there and dr. Walvoord was turning into Davidson Hall to go back to his office as he was serving as president that time he said look there there's one on the loose right there the chief is a giant we who knew dr. Sumi remember his affectionate title for our president at that time was the chief I always liked that vintage sue me for those of us who knew and sat in the classes and listened to him preached and witnessed his single-minded leadership and watched him fulfill his calling while experiencing both success and enormous difficulties and sometimes deep grief admit without a moment's hesitation that dr. John F Wofford qualified as one of the Giants in the land Webster defines a giant a being of great stature and strength dr. Walvoord was both though he has gone from us physically the memory of his great stature and strength lingers in all our minds those of us who cut our spiritual teeth on prophetic truth from dr. Walvoord course on eschatology were almost persuaded that the Lord Jesus would synchronize his return in the sky with dr. Walvoord time of departure from this earth it just seemed so right but as we have found out that is not the Father's plan that dr. Walvoord leaving us would precede the coming of the Lord in the clouds so we now anticipate our reunion with him in the air we come today to honor the faithful life and the splendid ministry of our esteemed mentor and friend there's no need for any of us to do a lengthy search through the Scriptures to try to find an appropriate scripture passage that would aptly describe the man's life the apostle of grace has done that for us his own epitaph written by him at the end of his life is like apples of gold in settings of silver when applied to the epical accomplishments of John F Wolverine the three succinct statements that appear in second Timothy four seven and eight say it best first I have fought the good fight battles rage in the spiritual world they may be invisible but they are real and they are rugged which explains why paul chooses a gona agony a term that refers to a contest in the arena whoever engages in the theological disciplines steps onto a battleground not a playground admittedly some are minor skirmishes better overlooked and ignored others are important enough for defenders of truth to weigh in and to stand fast and that there are occasionally major battles that called for clear thinking and keen discernment and courageous counter strategies that are well stated biblically-based and firmly set forth fighting major battles is especially exhausting since the adversary fuels those flames and that calls for a strong mind and an unintimidated will sometimes the fight is subtle and sneaky other times it's blatant and brash dangerous and sweeping in scope it's often doctrinal in nature it can be in the realm of morality or ethics it can emerge from within the ekklesia weakening our ranks or it can emerge from an assault from the cosmos bringing serious harm to the unsuspecting no matter the size or scope or the source of attack it takes a keen eye of discernment to see the dangers and bold courage to fight for what is right Isaac Watts words though now old are ever relevant sure I must fight if I would rein increase my courage Lord we come today to acknowledge the discernment and the courage of our esteemed friend who spent his professional life fighting the good fight second I have finished the course many starts strong but finish weak how the mighty are fallen said David upon hearing of the suicide of King Saul the stories of too many fallen spiritual leaders litter our landscape some were people who once looked pious and spiritual in public but were irritating carnal and petty and private others sounded humble but secretly and selfishly pursued their own agendas and polished their own image no such hypocrisy was found in dr. Waldron he was one who was the same whether many were watching or no one was looking the race was set before him and that's the race he ran like a distance runner steady and strong all the way to the end isn't it wonderful to be able to say that his love for Christ to the very last was obvious to all of us isn't it refreshing to remember that his devotion to his wife and their sons remained consistent to the end isn't it delightful to announce that his loyalty to the Scriptures never weakened never waned never wavered his contributions in print renew murus representing tireless effort and a high level of intelligence and sacrificial disciplines his commitment to prayer as has been mentioned already and his dependence upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom and stability were understated non-negotiables in the life of John F Wall Verne and now let's not portray the man as a flawless saint I need to add that another reason he finished the course so strong was because he was at times so stuttering his niece told me after a previous memorial service we had in December that she was exasperated at him on one occasion at a family gathering and she blurted out Uncle John you are tight and you are stubborn he responded with a twinkle and as I no no I'm economical and I'm determined we pause today to recognize a man who finished the course strong and well third I have kept the faith those words would be a fitting caption at the base of any portrait of John Walberg no matter how discouraged you and I may have gotten in our spirit regardless of the doubts that may have roared during our weak and fearful moments in the past we always knew there was one giant of a man living in the city of Dallas who was standing truth guarding the gospel embracing the faith preaching the word in season and out of season today we give our God great praise for this fine man who kept the faith without failing what does this say to all of us today since he is gone and we live on the words of two men come to mind what dad wants to living aw Tozer put it this way when a man of God dies nothing of God dies the man of God has passed on but the god of the man is ever present among us worthy of our worship waiting to be adored loving our service john stott adds as the leaders of the former generation die it is all the more urgent for those of us in the next generation to step forward bravely to take their place the greatest honor we can give dr. Wahlberg is to sustain the model he has left in our memories we too must fight a good fight we too need to finish the course strong and well we too must keep the faith and what can I say of him who has gone what is he now experiencing well hear it well following the epitaph comes the promise in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award me on that day and not only to me but also to those who have loved his appearing Eugene Peterson captures it in a paraphrase this is the only race worth living I've run hard to the finish believed all the way all that's left now is the shouting God's applause the memory of the man's life and ministry lives on but dr. Walvoord work is done his Labor's have ended the 92 year old champion has hung up the gloves having fought a good fight he's now enjoying well-deserved rest having finished the course strong and he leaves with us a reminder of the value of keeping the faith till the last day of our lives to borrow from Titan from dr. su me the chief giant is no longer on the loose not around here having served the purposes of God in his own generation he has moved from time to eternity and now he worships the Savior face to face but is it shouting he's hearing I don't believe I read of the sound of shouting in heaven now that he's finally home I believe rather he's hearing the fathers of the plaus let's pray together shall we dear Lord all of us in this room and a multitude of people from all over the world who have benefited from his ministry are most grateful to you for the life of John F Wofford not only are we grateful for his life but we are thankful for the legacy of excellence he leaves at Dallas seminary his memory is an encouragement to us all to live a life totally yielded to the Holy Spirit indeed he was faithful to his calling he finished well and we desire to do the same dismiss us now father with the renewed commitment to serve you fully and to bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus Christ in everything that we do for it is in his name that we pray amen

Channel: Dallas Theological Seminary

Views: 13,276

Rating: 4.647059 out of 5

Keywords: president, memorial, hope, history, legacy, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. John F. Walvoord, John Walvoord, President DTS, Dr. Mark Bailey, Dr. Charles Swindoll, Dr. Dwight Pentecost

Id: 8TPmN9TRpis

Length: 37min 52sec (2272 seconds)

Published: Thu May 31 2012