The news these days seems to be all bad. Besides the terrible things that continue to happen in the traditionally troubled parts of the world, a steady flow of tragedies are occurring in unexpected places.
Today in France terrorists were shot dead by Police after they had killed many other people. Paris is generally thought of as a great city to live and work in. The newspaper staff that offended Muslims may have expected such an attack, but what about the people that died in a grocery store? The Kosher store may have been selected for its Jewish patrons, but surely the attack wasn’t expected. The Muslim Policeman that was murdered as he lay helpless must have had his own plans that didn’t include dying.
162 people lost their lives on a routine flight from Surabaya to Singapore. Though airplane crashes seem frequent, they are statistically unexpected. That thousands of flights safely occur every day won’t comfort the families that lost their loved ones. The passengers and crew expected to make it to their destination, where they would continue their lives.
An attack in Sydney was also an unexpected event in a normally safe place. People who stopped by a coffee shop were surprised to be taken hostage. For one young couple, it was an unexpected end to their lives.
After a white Policeman caused the death of a black man in New York, protests erupted across the US. In revenge, a young black man killed two Policemen as they sat in their patrol car. Since both men were minorities, they didn’t expect to die in this racial conflict. They intended to continue their lives. One had recently gotten married and the other had a son he was supposed to come home too.
Though terrorist attacks in civilized countries and plane crashes in general are unexpected, death shouldn’t be. Whether due to murder, accidents, sickness or natural causes, death is 100% guaranteed for all of us, unless we are caught up to Heaven like Elijah.
With that certainty, we should prepare for our death. In fact, preparing for death should be the priority of our life. Since “to live is Christ and to die is gain” we need to make sure we are ready “to gain” by accepting GOD’s forgiveness and living for Him. “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 KJV). Investing this “limited” and uncertain life in our “eternal” and certain future will give us a great return.
Wayne Lance (2015) – That’s Good News to Share!