(John 6:44) “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.“
The week of Easter 2022 marks 6 years since the artist Prince died. When I heard of his death back in April of 2016, I did not know who he was and I did not know any of his songs. Only when I saw a picture of him did I recognize him from the media a time or two. Interestingly enough, when an iconic figure dies (like Prince, Michael Jackson, or Whitney Houston, just to name few), the world almost seems to come to a stop. All the news headlines for days afterwards are about them as the world eagerly awaits the coroner’s report. Well-wishers flood all the social media platforms and for a moment, we are reminded of the gravity and brevity of life.
Another thing that happens when iconic figures die is that we make assumptions about whether the deceased is in Heaven or in a Christ-less eternity. While I understand both sides are assuming on someone’s eternal destiny, we can certainly turn to scripture and make a seemingly more informed assumption.
Here are some things we tend to assume when we declare that an iconic figure is in heaven:
We assume the deceased had a deathbed. It is certainly true that someone could repent on their deathbed as the thief on the cross did, but this occurrence is rare. While people may turn to spiritual things in their last moments, they normally turn to the spirituality they know. A Catholic would call for a priest, and a Muslim for his imam, and so on. Most people will not call for someone who knows the Truth unless they know someone who knows the Truth. This takes me to my next point.
We assume the deceased knew the Truth. Bible salvation is not complicated. Even a child can understand the simplicity that is in the Gospel. But after having knocked on hundreds of doors in the my area and having reasoned with hundreds more, I am convinced that the majority do not know the Truth of salvation in Christ. Many are placing their trust in either their good works or their church membership, anything except Christ’s finished work on the cross.
We assume the Holy Ghost was drawing the deceased. Unfortunately, no one can of their own volition just decide to trust Christ as Lord and personal savior. John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Holy Ghost must be drawing. And sometimes, it could be that they may have heard the final call many years ago and refused. God may have already given this person over. See Romans Chapter 1.
We assume the deceased knew they were dying. Some may have known they were dying; maybe they had a terminal disease and were given a few months to live. On the other hand, maybe they were hit by a stray bullet, or they had a heart attack, and by the time they realized what was happening, they were gone. All in all, the final time is not time for someone to be settling their spiritual need. It should have been settled a long time ago.
And for those who claim the deceased may have been saved long before the they died, the Bible said in Matthew 12:33 “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” And Matthew 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
This week also marks the death of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ who willing lay down his life so that we can be saved. But the amazing news is that unlike Prince (the Singer), he not still dead. He is risen! And you my friend, can find new life by trusting in what the Prince of Peace did on the cross for you. Would you trust him today?
(Matt 7:16-20) “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. “
