All Right, God
Machine-gun fire from a German pillbox had stopped their advance. Myron Eberle moved forward to try to get the attack moving, when enemy mortar shells started falling all around him. He described his experience in the next few moments as, “the most vivid of my entire life”:
While issuing orders, the thought popped into my mind with no preliminary warning, that “I was going to die, right now!” My response was not spoken, but it was none the less a response, and it was, “Well, all right God, if it is time.” And with my response came over me the most peaceful, serene, joyous feeling that everything was going to be wonderful and death was going to be a marvelous experience.448
Almost in the same instant, a mortar shell struck right beside the awestruck soldier. Eberle himself was unhurt by the blast and survived the battle with the belief that God had given him a special message. He felt that he had received assurance for the rest of his life that “death will not be very frightening when we actually get there… God does indeed want us for his own.”449
As Christians we know the truth of this soldier’s revelation. Our Savior conquered death for us and waits to receive us in a wonderful place. Even though we understand this, we are still inspired by this story and find our faith strengthened by this soldier’s experience. One man’s reassurance from God is reassuring to us all. Death is truly nothing to fear. God does want us for his own.
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
—1 Corinthians 15:54–55