The fruitful and faithful life of evangelist William Solomon Hottle Piper ended early this morning. He was 88 years old. An excerpt from the obituary written by his son John:
“He edited the periodical The Rod of God, published books of sermons, led inspirational tours to Israel, created Bible study materials used around the world, and for two-and-a-half decades, served as founder and president of ROGMA, International, which has trained thousands of church leaders in Bible doctrine.
He would want us to say, in the words of his hero, the apostle Paul, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” We who knew him best loved him most. “
I imagine that a great company of saints was waiting for him in glory because of his life’s work. May we likewise not waste our lives, but rather spread the aroma of Christ throughout our respective spheres. We may not all be ministers or gifted, influential evangelists, but we can all “look carefully how we walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (From Eph. 5:15-16) And we can all use our money to “make friends for ourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive us into the eternal dwellings.” (From Luke 16:9) And we can all strive to be always ready, “to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us.” (From I Peter 3:15) And we can all “knowing the fear of the Lord, persuade others.” (II Cor. 5:11)
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (II Cor. 5:14-15)
May the tribe of William Solomon Hottle Piper increase. And may II Cor. 5:14-15 be said of us too.