Death can come swiftly leaving no goodbyes to those left behind. On Sunday, Jan. 26, nine people left this world in a freak helicopter crash.
Among the nine was NBA icon and athlete, Kobe Bryant, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The rest of the passengers included: John Altobelli, Kerri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot, Ara Zobayan.
These moments leave many with grief and questions that sometimes go unanswered. Why did this happen? Why did they have to die?
These are questions countless that people ask around the world every day as people do die every day. Media broadcasts death by violence, sickness and calamities. Then, there are the unseen, unnumbered deaths that happen out of the spotlight.
Death is a part of life that we can never get used to and it can be a very hard thing to understand but we start to understand by opening our Bible.
“From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17)
But, we all know Adam and Eve disobeyed God and the result was an eventual death. We inherited that curse of disobedience and it seems unfair, but “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We are all born “and shapen in iniquity” (Psalms 51:5), our end result is death, but the good news is Jesus died for our sins and saved us from eternal death.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The deaths have sent shockwaves throughout the world. Kobe Bryant was the last person anyone would ever expect to pass away, but it shows death comes to all: rich, poor, healthy, sick, nice, mean, old, young, etc.
His passing punched home that we can never know what the day will hold and the importance of being earnest and sober-minded in our living.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 1:6)
I think the point of this tragedy is to realize that now is the time to get right with God because tomorrow may not come. It’s time to choose this day whom you will serve: yourself or the Lord.
Every day that we wake up to is another chance to get right with God, seek His will and purpose in our lives, and spread the good news about Jesus.
