THE NEED IS ERGENT!!!

Today I read that Whitney Houston passed away. She was, by many judgments, the most talented singer ever. I am not ashamed to say that I was a fan in the 80s and 90s. Foxnews.com has reported that she sold more than 55 million records in the United States alone during her career. She had her ups and her wildly spiral of downs. But no matter the ups or downs she did give one of the most amazing renditions of the Star Spangled Banner at the 1991 Super Bowl. On the other hand, according to the Associated Press, she had a very dismal European Tour just recently. With all her positives and negatives, she still remains the highest selling recording woman artist in history. I will continue to pray for her family and friends that are grieving now and will grieve in the future. The funeral for Whitney will be elaborate and many stars will attend. Her influence on music will be sorely missed.

There is nothing that can be done for her spiritually, no matter whether she was a New Testament Christian or not. That is not the point of this article. The point I am trying to articulate is what is recorded for us in Hebrews 9:27, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment," (ESV). I wish that I had the opportunity to sit down with Whitney and teach her the truth about God and His will. But I never was blessed with that opportunity. But this brings up something that needs to be discussed. Who do we know, famous or not, that is not a Christian and with whom we have not shared the gospel? Does this tragic event in our news helped us see the desperate times we are in with those around us?

I would be willing to go out on a limb and say that Whitney was unaware that today was her last. In fact many reports said that she was getting ready to go to a Grammy party on the evening of or the next of her death. Reality must set in for all of us. Today might be my last day on this earth. I cannot see around life's corner. I do not know what is lurking tomorrow. With this tragic death in our minds, I must take every opportunity to preach the word. If your non-Christian neighbor were to die tonight, would you be able to say that you tried to share the Gospel? This is something that only you and God know.

Every opportunity must be placed in the context of James 4:13-15, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" If we do not minister God's message to those around us now, then we might never have the chance. "Today is the day of salvation..." (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Sources

- www.foxnews.com, "Singer Whitney Houston Found Dead" 2/11/12.

- www.ap.org, "Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies", NEKESA MUMBI MOODY AP Music Writer, Feb. 11, 2012.