Where Is He Now

There has been a lot written and spoken about the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. A five time NBA champion with multiple other accomplishments. The news shocked me. I learned of it after lunch this past Sunday, when Turner walked in the room with the report. It shocked me.

I don't know why it shocked me. People die all the time. Famous people die. Sadly, young famous people die. Like Buddy Holly, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy,  Bobby Kennedy, Princess Dianna, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and James Dean. Now we can add to that list Kobe Bryant. One moment he gets on a helicopter with his daughter headed for her game, and the next tragedy.

So much has been said about Kobe's death. One question penetrates my mind and disturbs my heart. Did Kobe Bryant know Jesus as his savior? Bryant often referred to himself as the Black Mumba for his fierceness in competition. What did the Black Mumba have to say when he stood before Righteous Yahweh?

Where is he now? Is he rejoicing in heaven? Is his daughter there with him? Is he suffering unimaginable torment in hell that is only just beginning and will last for eternity? Agonizing, weeping, gnashing of teeth suffering. If Kobe could give one last message for the masses what would it be? Turn to Jesus before it is too late.

Kobe's death should be a wake up call. For a few moments we will think about our own mortality. Soon life will go on. One day we will hear that it has been a year since Kobe died. We will think about how fast time flies and feel like it only happened a few days ago. Life goes on. People get lulled back to sleep. They forget about matters of eternity.

Eternity is only one heartbeat away for all of us. A friend texted me recently that a man he loved was found dead. No fan fare. The deceased friend lived alone. He suffered physically in every way imaginable and died of a heart attack. On e heartbeat away. Where is that man now?

Eternity is too long to be wrong. Fame and fortune or isolation and denial of truth do not alter the fact everybody dies and faces God in the end.

Hebrews 9:27 "For it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment."