Just hours before his death, Apostle Justin Heath stood before believers and preached about heaven.
“I can’t wait to get to heaven,” the 67-year-old pastor said.
Hours later, Heath was gone.
According to ABC11, Heath, a longtime North Carolina pastor and former Wayne County sheriff’s deputy, was killed Saturday night while driving members of his church home from a revival service in Harnett County.
But it is what Heath preached before the crash that has made his sudden death especially poignant for those who knew and loved him.
His son-in-law, Chad Smith, told ABC11 that Heath’s final sermon centered on the biblical account of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Heath spoke about Mary and Martha’s grief over their brother’s death and then turned his attention toward eternity.
“He said that Lazarus was the one who should have been upset because he was already in Abraham’s bosom. He was already in heaven,” Smith recalled.
Then came Heath’s striking declaration: “I can’t wait to get to heaven.”
“He didn’t know that in just a short time he would have his opportunity,” Smith told ABC11. “That the Lord would call him home.”
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Heath was driving the church van when a car driven by off-duty Durham police Cpl. Joseph King struck the van after running a red light.
The tragedy carried another heartbreaking twist.
Smith said he ordinarily would have driven the church van that night. Instead, he stayed behind to prepare decorations for a Pastor Appreciation celebration that the church was planning for Heath the next morning.
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Known affectionately as “Papa Heath,” Heath had traveled internationally in ministry and dedicated his life to serving others. Smith told ABC11 that ministry was never merely a profession for his father-in-law.
“It was never a job. It was about the kingdom.”
And that is exactly where Heath spent his final hours, focused on it.
“He literally had just left the altar praying and preaching and prophesying with people,” Smith said. “And then a few minutes later, he’s in the arms of the Lord.”
For the church that planned to celebrate him Sunday morning, Heath’s final sermon now carries a weight no one could have anticipated. The pastor who stood behind the pulpit speaking about heaven would, just hours later, leave this life, those very words still fresh in the hearts of those who heard them.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about Abby at abbytrivett.com.
