We Saw His Glory

We Saw His Glory

On August 24 of this year, our dearly beloved brother, Aksel J. Smith, passed away.

It is impossible for me to express in words what he has meant for me personally with his life and work—his radiating example in all that is good. He has left a heavenly undertow behind for all those who have sense for godliness: “Follow me!”

Now he is no longer among us—this noble man who by his wisdom and humble life revealed Christ and His nature so it could be seen by all—perhaps more so than by any other man during his life-time. Now he is home with the Lord, together with the cloud of witnesses, and he has a seat together with the spirits of just men made perfect on God’s Mount Zion. Heb. 12:22-23.

He loved the friends from his childhood on; he lived all his life in the church, and as a young boy, he gave himself wholeheartedly to Christ. He was one of the few to whom God was pleased to draw near. There he drank of the source of wisdom and God revealed His glory in him. All God’s word can be applied to brother Aksel J. Smith. He lived the word, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” John 1:14. This can truly be written as a heading over brother Aksel J. Smith’s life: We saw his glory! “The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Since brother Aksel J. Smith lived the word, the power of the word was abundantly evident in his life. His attitude was like Jesus’: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34.

There are many preachers, but few can say, “My words are spirit and life!” But because Aksel J. Smith could say this, he had such an ability to lift up, and his words had such far-reaching results—they became an unspeakably great help to all those who sorrow in Israel. As prophet and shepherd he had a special ability to hear the winds of the Spirit. He was born of the Spirit; we heard the sound of the wind, but we never knew where it came from. Brother Aksel J. Smith was agile in his spirit. One minute he could weep with those who were weeping, and in the next minute he could rejoice together with those who were rejoicing. He was free from himself and always ready to serve and bless people. He was also quite uncommonly righteous in all his conduct, and he would often lay this on our hearts: “Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.’” 2 Tim. 2:19.

The head of the living creature with the four faces which Ezekiel portrays so vividly in his vision by the River Chebar, lived and revealed itself so visibly in Aksel J. Smith’s spirit-filled ministry. “As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man, each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.” Ezek. 1:10.

Aksel J. Smith had the tenacity of an ox and the ability to endure in all temptations and contradictions as well as to trample under his feet all the evil, and everything that rises up against the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He possessed the quickness of the lion in war; its skill in bringing down its prey, holding on to it, and devouring it. We also noticed in him the eagle’s sharp vision in how he made use of the storm in a peaceful way, gained height, and with divine insight rode it out and tamed it. By means of these God-given qualities he revealed the Father’s glory in a very special way.

But first and foremost—and this is what we remember him best for—was the way in which he personified face of a godly man. Through his wisdom and love he kept the church in the middle of the right paths. He was an untiring guide in the good.

He was uncommonly good, something which those who were closest to him experienced in abundance. His father, Johan O. Smith, said about him in his youth: “Aksel is a prince among his brothers!” He was a great comfort and blessing to his father and mother.

To God be the glory for the work he has done in our dearly beloved brother! His blessed remembrance will live for all eternity!