It has certainly been a week to remember for celebrities deaths: Ed McMahan; Farrah Fawcett; Michael Jackson; Billy Mays (“infomercial” guy). Of course Michael Jackson has dominated the news.
What was not reported in the news was that in the same week-long period, 43,197 other individuals died in the United States (US Census). Read that again: FORTY-THREE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SEVEN people stepped into eternity… just in the United States.
This is where everyone is put on the same playing field. At the moment those 43,197 hearts stopped beating (including Michael Jackson’s), they stepped into eternity. At that moment only one question was paramount. NOT how did they die? How much money did they leave behind? How many records did they sell? Were they famous or not? Where did they live? And so on and so on. Only ONE question mattered. The one question that determines everything… what did they do with JESUS?
The answer was revealed instantly. When the answer was revealed, there was great rejoicing or great moaning – instantly. There was great joy or great fear – instantly. There was uncontrollable laughter or wailing and weeping – instantly. There was rejoicing in heaven or the darkness of hell – instantly. There was a great reunion with other believers or an eternal loneliness – instantly. There was dancing on streets of gold or gnashing of teeth – instantly. There was heaven or hell – instantly.
Was there a second chance? NEVER!
Jesus said it this way – “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” Mark 8:36 (NLT)
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment… Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)
One of those 43,197 was one of our own. On Sunday afternoon, Ella Jane Reed Blake (Larry Mixson’s mother) stepped into eternity. Because of her public confession, I know that she instantly was with Jesus Christ. She was filled with rejoicing, great joy, and contagious laughter – instantly! She is dancing on streets of gold. She is surrounded by believers she knew in this life who are already in heaven. She is surrounded by people of the Bible that she has read about her entire life. She is celebrating! We will join her at the marriage ceremony with Jesus.
Are you destined for the throne? Are you ready to step into eternity? It will not matter what anyone thinks of you in this world. It will only matter what God thinks.
Was Michael Jackson a believer? Based on his past confession, he was not. However, I don’t know of any recent decisions he may have made. But what I can say without reservation that he is a believer now. You see, once you step into eternity, you will know instantly that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord and Savior of the Universe. Even if you are in hell, you will worship Him.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (hell), and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
