On October 24th, Gary Turnbull, a Lighthouse Trails and Understand the Times friend and defender of the faith, passed on to his eternal home in glory. Many of you may have known him. Gary continually spent his life encouraging the saints and often attended conferences where truth was being defended and proclaimed. Gary’s family asked Roger Oakland to speak at Gary’s memorial service. Whether you knew Gary or not, we think you will find Roger’s remarks quite challenging and thought-provoking.
Gary Turnbull Memorial – November 27, 2010
by Roger Oakland
It is an honor and a blessing to be asked by Gary Turnbull’s family to share a few words at his memorial. As this is the first time that I have spoken to a public forum since May of 2009, I hope you will forgive me for reading most of what I want to share rather than speaking spontaneously.
Gary and I were friends from the moment we first met when he came forward to speak with me at a conference I was speaking at in Chino Hills, August of 2005. Gary seemed excited about the message God had given me that day to warn the church about end times apostasy.
From that time on we corresponded by e-mail and phone. He seemed to have the gift of calling me at the right time to encourage and lift me out of a deep hole. I did not know until yesterday that he was just two months younger than me. He seemed to me like he had had a life time of experience. His life was dedicated to exposing deception and promoting God’s Word. He often told me how lonely he was after his wife had gone to be with Jesus.
Gary introduced me to members of his family on several occasions. His heart was to educate friends and relatives regarding the validity of Scripture. While at times, some would consider him bold and outspoken, I never did.
I remember from our conversations how much Gary loved God’s Word. This was something he discovered later in his life. When he found Christ, he never looked back. He quickly discovered how the Bible was the answer for understanding our times and sometimes confront Christian leaders and tell them what he saw happening and where apostasy was headed…..
Gary often went on weekend excursions to learn more about what the Bible said about end times, particularly Israel. I am sure he traveled to nearly every conference there was where the speakers were willing to stand up for Israel and confront end times apostasy in the church. I remember I saw him in Bend, OR, Syracuse, NY, Charlotte, NC, Chino Hills and Washington DC all in one year. He would call me and tell me about the churches that he had attended, some good, some not so good. When the pastors were on their way to becoming Purpose Driven, he would quietly move on or find a home Bible study where like-minded friends would study God’s Word together.
On one occasion when I was on my way to London, England, in DC., Gary was more than willing to give me a tour of the White House, Smithsonian Institute, Washington Mall all in one morning. We even took in the ceremony when the Delhi Lama was on the steps of Congress just before he was to receive the Congressional Award for being a Tibetan Holy Man on American soil. While it was interesting, Gary and I were appalled.
If I were to use the Scriptures to share with you what Gary believed, it would take too long for the time we have been allotted. However, I would like to mention a few like these:
- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who loved His appearing. Gary could see the finish line. This was one of his unique gifts.
- For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Gary believed in the grace of God – a big God and a very small man – he did not support those who claimed they were doing the work of God but were caught up in deception. Gary, because of his gifts, had tremendous discernment and understood Satan’s plan for man was in direct opposition to the truth.
- One Psalm that Gary always quoted was also one of my own favorites. In Psalms 118, David wrote: From my distress I called upon the name of the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me and I shall not fear; what can man do to me?… It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
These verses are only a few that give a glimpse of Gary’s life and his love for friends, relatives, and life. What I remember most about Gary can best be described by a portion of a transcript of a radio program that Gary inspired. This is how it goes:
The book of Jude is the shortest book in the Bible. However, we shouldn’t judge its brevity as a means of determining its importance in the canon of God’s Word. As well, Jude appears to be a preface to the book of Revelation. What should that tell us?
The book of Revelation is the final book of the Bible. While there is a growing popular view among professing Christians that the book of Revelation describes historic events that have already occurred, there is a remnant that belong to the camp of believers who claim that many of the prophecies it contains are soon to be fulfilled.
The language that John used to describe the supernatural vision given to him by God, foretells a judgment that lies just around the corner. This can be fully understood in light of the current events that are unfolding.
Further, remember the pattern of Scripture – when man chooses apostasy rather than being obedient to God, God warns and then brings judgment. It can be documented that apostasy is underway today on a global scale. Will God change His mind and ignore it? Not according to His past record.
Then there is another important factor. Prophecy, like history, has a way of repeating itself. Events foretold by the biblical Old Testament prophets often had a twofold fulfillment – a near or partial fulfillment in the times in which they lived and then also a final fulfillment that occurred at another time in history.
So, what did Jude’s warning mean to the church then, and what does it means now? Jude wrote his letter as a wake up call to the early church. The apostasy Jude was addressing, underway then, would only intensify. Jude was appealing to the church to “earnestly contend for the faith.” This was the faith that was “once and for all delivered” to the saints.
No additions and nor deletions were allowed. The faith was THE FAITH.
It was also evident that Jude was urgently calling for action. Sitting on the sidelines was not allowed. As Jesus said, if you were not for Him you were against Him. Standing up for the faith is not an option – it is obligatory.
Now, here is the point. If Jude was calling the church to action and to contend for the faith then, what about his message being relevant for the church today – to do the same thing?
As we examine the language Jude used to wake up and warn the early church, there are some incredible parallels with regard to what is happening right now world wide.
It was Gary’s conviction that the book of Jude is the message the church needs to hear today. While many are saying, such a message is too negative and Christians should only be known for what they are for and not what they are against, Gary could not and would not support ecumenical jargon that leads to a one world religion in the name of Jesus.
Remember, following the book of Jude is the book of Revelation. You see, it fits the pattern.
Gary planned on warning the church no matter what the critics said.
Something tells me (the current events) that it won’t be long now. Can you hear the trumpet blowing?
Gary, as many of you know, was greeted by Jesus when he departed this earth for His heavenly home. Jesus would have said, come up here my friend. I have a place prepared for you. Your work here on earth is complete. You are a good and faithful servant. Well done! You have finished the race.
Pray….. and John 3: 16a
The family wreath for Gary’s memorial has my favorite Scripture draped over it. This was the first thing I noticed when Myrna and I walked into the church. This was the verse that my dad had written in the front of my Bible when I was 9 years old.
Although I memorized this verse as a child in Sunday School, it became real to me on the day I was saved, one February night in my living room in our home in Canada where I grew up. I read the verse in the very same room where my Dad wrote it in my Bible. The photo of my Dad sitting in a chair in that room with the Bible next to him is how I remember him the most.
I know that if Gary was here he would want me to conclude my message this way using John: 3:16. I had already prepared this conclusion in my notes.
Jesus died for you, right? John 3: 16 summarizes the Bible in one verse: “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall NOT perish, but have everlasting life = the gospel in one verse.
Think about that!
Jesus died for you. It is all about Him. He died for you… so that if you confess your sins with your mouth and believe on Him in your heart that God raised Him from the dead…. You WILL be SAVED?
I thank the Turnbull family for giving me this opportunity to share from my heart in memory of a very dear friend who is now absent from the body, but present with the Lord.
