I was especially struck by the death of Neda Soltan, but not for the reason the world is upset. No, what struck me with great sorrow was the headline: "I'm burning! I'm burning" - her last words before she passed into her eternal state.
I am making the assumption that she was a member of the dominant religion of that country. And if so, then she is burning eternally in hell. Her last words - were they expressing her passage from life into eternity, from this world into the burning fires of hell?
No one will ever know for sure this side of eternity. I've heard stories before, though, of unbelievers crying out about burning and hell and fire at the moment of death.
A beautiful young woman here on earth, but now? As far as humanly known, simply another soul spending eternity in hell fire.
Three other people died and made national and international news. The biggest news, is of course, the "untimely" death of Michael Jackson. I've never been an MJ fan, never. Oh, he might have been a cute kid, but as an adult I found him sickening. His dancing, while talented, was often obscene. He appeared to be mentally ill - always changing his physical appearance. He was accused of being a pedophile.
Yet, here on earth people worshipped him. I watched a couple of his music videos tonight just to get an idea of who this man was. 'Billy Jean' and 'Beat It' - as well as a FoxNews montage of some of his concerts. During those concerts they showed film of girls/women crying and actually being taken out by EMT's. My thoughts while watching that ran along the line of Jesus' words to the Pharisees: "You have your reward here on earth." But now? Again, it is very possible that he, too, burns for eternity.
This is serious stuff. I am not being light-hearted about this at all. No, in fact, the whole idea makes me shudder and feel a very deep, deep sorrow. So much talent these people had, yet - where are they now?
Life is so short. Fleeting. Like a vapor - here one second and gone the next. People are mourned for awhile and then forgotten.
We watched a special (with voice over so it was hard to get details) about Elvis Presley several weeks ago. Another tragic life, cut short by drugs and bad living. Another person who is remembered, yes, but less and less often and in another generation he, too, will be just a note in history.
How thankful I am that God has provided a way to have eternal life, through Jesus Christ, His Son. Oh, thank you, Father! Thank you once again that I am your child. Help me to stand firm in my faith.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
Luke 16:19-31
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