Voddie Baucham died today and it’s just the latest in a string of contemporary giants of the faith that we’ve lost in rapid succession. Voddie was a powerful voice for God and Biblical truth. I’ve replayed some of his sermons numerous times because when I need to be broken and humble, he has the message. When I need my faith strengthened and verified, he has the message for that as well.

I can’t help but wonder why all these great messengers of truth are being called home in just a short span of time. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, after all, there no doubt have been hundreds, if not thousands of dedicated men and women of God called home during this span that most of us never knew.  Yet, it seems the void being created now may be very difficult to fill.

Consider: Phil Robertson died in May at the age of 79. John MacArther passed at age 86 in July. Dr. James Dobson was 89 when he died in August. Charlie Kirk was just 31 when he was assassinated by a sniper’s bullet while speaking on a college campus. And Voddie Baucham was just 56 when he passed away today.

That’s five remarkable men of God we’ve lost within the past five months. The first three were advanced in age, the latter two were relatively young and in their prime. They had different callings, but they served the same Caller. They reached different audiences, but their message was the same.

Robertson’s conversion from a drunken, wayward husband and father to a bold proclaimer of the Gospel made him appealing to those who need such a change in their own lives.

MacArthur is lauded as perhaps the greatest Bible scholar of our age and his devotion to studying God’s word has inspired generations of pastors to be uncompromising in their preaching.

Dobson made it his life’s mission to rescue the family in the wake of social upheaval in the 60s and 70s that did so much damage to homes across America. He did so using Biblical principles and he took a lot of arrows from the secular elite for his stance.

Kirk began as a mostly political activist but soon realized that the policies needed to save American youth were rooted in Biblical truth. He was unashamed of marrying his Biblical worldview with his political agenda and in doing so, launched a direct assault on the monopoly of humanism on our college campuses. His martyrdom this month by an assassin’s bullet may indeed be sparking a revival across America.

Baucham’s personal testimony from a humble, non-Christian youth in the inner city, to becoming one of the most intellectual and boldest voices in all of Christianity is a testament to the providence of God.

There were areas of disagreement among all five of these men. MacArthur believed in a pre-tribulation rapture. Baucham did not believe in a rapture of the church. Dr. Dobson was a member of the Nazarene Church. Phil Robertson belonged to a Church of Christ (not the Disciples of Christ – which has become an apostate church). Charlie Kirk was a member of a Calvary Chapel church in Arizona.

If you sat all five men together in one room, there would assuredly be matters of theological difference, but no doubt there would also be mutual respect and a shared love and recognition all would have of each other as Brothers in Christ. That’s because their main message was the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay our sin debt, rose again and will return to reign forever. And they would unite in declaring their desire to share that message with all who would hear and believe.

It’s safe to say that these five lives have impacted millions. It’s also safe to say that they will likely impact even more after their death. Dobson’s work salvaged broken marriages, strained parent-child relationships and created homes where faith has become the focus.

Robertson’s life and faith was shared with millions through the popular “Duck Dynasty” reality show, in which he never wavered in his bold proclamation of the gospel. It wasn’t a made-for-TV gimmick. He led many to Christ through personal conversations and he passed that same faith down to his children and grandchildren, who continue the work.

MacArthur stayed at one church for over 50 years, but his influence has touched countless churches through the pastors and leaders he has taught, trained and mentored. His numerous books, commentaries and Bible studies will continue to instruct Christians for years, and he will likely be counted among the ranks of the greatest preachers of all time.

Kirk’s legacy may be greater in death that it ever would have been in life. His work continues through Turning Point USA, his debates on college campuses and elsewhere have been viewed more in the past two weeks since his death, than probably all the times combined before September 10th. And the testimonies of people picking up a Bible, going to church, or returning to faith have been pouring in since his death, suggesting a revival is at hand.

Baucham was perhaps one of the foremost Christian apologists of our age. He has shared a stage with Kirk and with MacArthur and was brilliant in defending the faith, in defending the truth and infallibility of the Bible. He preached the Gospel and was never afraid to enter the fray when it came to defending Biblical principles in a culture that is increasingly hostile toward God.

Why are we losing all these giants at this time? I have no answer – but I dare suggest that I do know how all five men would answer this question. They would say God is sovereign and His timing is absolutely perfectly aligned with His will. We may not understand it, but our faith compels us to believe that God knows what He’s doing.

While these men are gone, their words, their wisdom and their example remain to spur us on to endure and persevere. The early church saw the apostles suffer torture and imprisonment and even death. Yet the church pressed on. We are called to do the same. We must do the same.

Note from SKN: I searched the internet but could find no article that was the exact words from the FB page.