YOU CAN ONLY LIVE SO LONG
Mike Johnson
“You can only live so long.” According to an AP article, these were the last words of a tenor as he performed at the Metropolitan Opera House during a production in New York City. The man was standing at the top of a ten-foot ladder when he suffered a heart attack. He fell to the stage below and died a short time later after singing the fatalistic line.
A few years ago, in Michigan, a bowler who had been bowling for 31 years died shortly after bowling his first 300 game at the age of 40. Fellow league members had cheered him on and had surrounded him as he rolled his final three strikes. Shortly after the game, the man seemed quiet; then, the color drained from his face, and within fifteen minutes, he suffered a fatal heart attack!
People die under a variety of circumstances and in many different ways. Most do not die under such unique circumstances as the two men mentioned above, although many die unexpectedly and suddenly as they did. However, in spite of how death comes and the conditions under which it happens, it comes to all.
The Bible teaches the inevitability of death and the fickleness of our life here on this earth. Hebrews 9:27 speaks of two certainties we face as it says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Job 14:1-2 says, “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” James 4:14 points out that our life is a “vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
People ask various questions when a death occurs. Someone might ask, “Did he leave a family behind?” Another may ask, “Did he have a lot of money?” Some may want to know the cause of the person’s death. Although commonly asked, these and similar questions pale compared to the most crucial question: “Was the person a faithful Christian?” When a person dies, this is the only question that matters.
At the most, life on this earth is short, and death can come at any time. So what are we doing with the time we have? Are we using our brief life here on this earth to faithfully serve God? Are we “redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16), knowing that our death and the Judgment are swiftly approaching (Eccl. 9:7, 2 Cor. 5:10)?
People do die under unusual circumstances and at unexpected times. However, unless the Lord comes first, we all will die. Are we prepared for this inevitable event? If not, we need to make sure we prepare ourselves by obeying the Will of God.