Take Advantage of This Hot Topic

Watch for ways to inject this God focused perspective
Into every conversation that resembles this Hot Topic

A Good Man!

The helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant will prove to be one of the most shocking events of our lifetimes. After you heard the news, everyone you called already knew.  It’s doubtful that any other event has been so broadly known in such a short period of time.

Why was this one life so important to us?
Famous people die every day, but when Kobe died our world stopped with a gasp!  Lives all but ended for those who all but worshipped Kobe.  He was the man . . . who combined his God-given talents with his insatiable “Mamba” work ethic that commanded the respect of every basketball player on the planet.

But our connection to Kobe was way more than that!  Kobe Bryant was a good man and became a role model for all of us.  Yes, he was human and made mistakes, but while all of us watched and admired, he learned from his mistakes and became even better at being a devoted husband and Dad.  All forms of media, knowing we couldn’t get enough of Kobe, kept us massively informed on everything he did. He was all but omnipresent in our lives!

But Kobe Had a Choice!
He was offered the moon by organizations wanting to profit from his fame. But he chose, instead, to devote his fame and resources to help others, particularly the young and underprivileged with the sport of basketball.

He was a superstar for sure!  But he wasn’t just successful and famous.  Kobe was a good man with a big smile and a kind heart that made everyone better. That’s why none of us can believe he’s gone . . . and his life is over!

Opportunity in the Midst of Tragedy
The unexpected passing of someone important provokes questions about God, the meaning of life, what happens next, and what if it was you. Clearly this is an epic moment to share your faith because almost everyone is searching for answers.  It’s an opportunity to share the Good News! It will never be easier to insert God into almost every conversation with one or more of the following Biblical Truths:

It’s Not About How We Die or How Long We Live
A million years from now, it won’t matter how many years we lived during our brief time on earth – even if we die in a helicopter crash at age 41.  At the start of Eternity, a million years from now, the amount of time we spent on earth will be meaningless.  All that will matter is:  Did we acknowledge God as our Lord and Savior before we died and how many people are in Heaven because of the talent and resources God gave us.  Nothing else on earth will matter!

God Numbers of Our Days
Kobe woke up on Sunday morning having no idea it was his last day.  For him, it was just another day. . . but it was his last day.  Job 14:5 says, You (God) have decided the length of our lives.  You know how many months we will live and we are not given a minute longer. This is why we should live every day like it’s our last day.

God Looks at Death Differently!
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, Psalm 116:15  and To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,  II Cor 5:8. For Christians, the end of life is the beginning of life unimaginable in the presence of Almighty God!  “We can only imagine!”

Being Good Isn’t Good Enough
Being a good person doesn’t get you or anyone else into Heaven.  When Jesus was asked which is the greatest Commandment, He responded with ‘Loving God’ and ‘Loving your neighbor as yourself’.  And when you love your neighbor as yourself, you’re as concerned for their Salvation as you are your own . . . living for God’s Purpose to seek and save the lost.

 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
I Cor 13:3

Eternal Life is ‘The Gift’ You Cannot Earn
For by grace are you saved through faith; not of yourselves, it is a Gift of God.  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8. It’s so simple!

Jesus sacrificed His Life on the Cross for your Redemption.  All you have to do is receive it.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you’ll receive God’s ultimate Gift of Eternal Life for yourself and you’ll know, for the rest of your life, that it doesn’t matter when or how you die.

Let’s Be Real
As certain as the sun will rise tomorrow, God has already determined the timing of your last day.  The question is will you be ready when that day comes?   And what will you do, between now and then, to love as many people as possible into Heaven? A million years from now, nothing else will matter!

Reference Quotes and Scriptures:

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they’re gone the light remains.“
Unknown

“Grief is the price we pay for love.“
Queen Elizabeth II

“Someday, everything will make perfect sense.  So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.“
Unknown

“Grief is like going through a tunnel and sometimes we wonder if we’ll ever come out the other end. But God has not abandoned you, and He wants to comfort you and assure you that He is with you.“
Billy Graham

“Grief’s darkness fades in the sunlight of thanksgiving.“
Billy Graham

“You are not alone.  God knows the depths of pain death causes.“
Charles Stanley

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

What we suffer now is nothing compared with the Glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor 15:55-57

Love each other deeply with all your heart.  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end.  Your new life will last forever because it comes from the Eternal, Living Word of God.  As the scriptures say:  People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field.  The grass withers and the flower fades.  But the Word of the Lord remains forever.
I Peter 1:22-25

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s Love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted or hungry of destitute or in danger or threatened with death . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s Love. Neither death or life, neither angels of demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s Love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the Love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 31-39

What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?
Mark 8:36

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the Crown of Life that God has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful Grace of God.
Acts 20:24