A Tribute to Dr. John MacArthur, A Life Well Lived for the Glory of God
John MacArthur has passed, and yet, he lives. A good man. A faithful man. A man of God. I rejoice knowing his voice will never be forgotten. Though we will not hear it afresh, the echoes of his faithfulness will continue to instruct, to convict, to strengthen. My heart aches at our loss, but it soars at his gain.
Though I will deeply miss his wisdom from afar, his preaching, his pen, his unwavering devotion to the truth, I am especially burdened in prayer for those who truly knew him: those he pastored personally, those who sat with him at the table, who wept with him in prayer, who bore the weight of ministry by his side, and who called him friend, father, grandfather, and husband. Their loss is deeper than ours, and their grief more personal.
As I sit in my study, surrounded by his commentaries and sermons, the books that shaped my own ministry, and remember the moments I was privileged to meet him, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. He was more than a mentor from afar; he was a model of godly resolve, unwavering conviction, and enduring hope. To many, he was a pastor, a theologian, a general in the Lord’s army. But to those closest to him, he was far more, and it is for them I pray most earnestly today.
Pastor John never pursued celebrity. He stood firm not because he saw himself as exceptional, but because he saw God as supremely glorious. Everything he did flowed from a high view of God and a deep trust in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. He was not captivated by the applause of man, but by the fear of the Lord. His life was marked by clarity in preaching, consistency in character, and courage in conflict.
He would not want us to mourn as those who have no hope. He would want his departure to compel us to press on, to teach the Word faithfully, to shepherd the flock diligently, to guard the gospel fiercely, and to run our race with endurance. For the end is near for us all, and what we do now, we must do with urgency and faithfulness while it is still called "today."
There will only ever be one JMac. But God is not finished. The Lord of the harvest is still raising up laborers. And in this moment, we who loved him must not only grieve gratefully, we must live resolutely. We must carry the torch, preach the Word, and remain steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
To the staff of Grace Community Church, to The Master’s Seminary and University, to Grace to You, and especially to his dear family, you have lost more than a preacher. You have lost your shepherd, your friend, your loved one. I pray the God of all comfort will be near to you in these days.
Heaven is a promised place, a prepared place, and now, for Pastor John, it is a personal place. He has entered the joy of his Master, joined the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before. The earthly pulpit is empty, but Heaven rejoices.
Thank You, Lord, for the life and legacy of John MacArthur, a pillar of truth, a herald of grace, and a faithful servant of Christ. May we who remain honor his greatest desire, that Christ be exalted in all things, and that the Word of God never be bound.
Soli Deo Gloria.

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