In the mid to late 90s, I did not pay close attention to the news, nor did I listen to Christian radio stations (I preferred to get all my music directly from CD). So, when I arrived at church on Sunday, September 21, 1997, I was not prepared when one of the kids from the youth group I helped with approached me and asked if I had “heard the news.” I told her no. Then she told me that Rich Mullins had been killed in a car crash over the weekend. Today marks 25 years since that accident.
Rich’s tragic, fatal accident a month shy of his 42nd birthday serves as a reminder to all of us that there are no guarantees about the future. I don’t say that as some dark, ominous warning, but as a fact.
I have found that talking about death tends to bother some people. I admit that it is not that happiest of topics, but not one to shy away from. Some people even have a fear of death. I talked about this at the beginning of this series in a post called Elijah – Redefining Death.
The Bible tells us that, as a result Adam’s sin, death entered the world, and all will die:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Rom. 5:12, ESV)
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (Heb. 9:27, ESV)
Yet, we are given the assurance that even though this human body may die, our spirits may have eternal life:
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 5:18-21, ESV)
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:50-57)
This scripture from Corinthians deals with the second coming of Jesus as well as death. When I read it, I have to smile because a memory comes to mind. When I was a child, I was told that everyone would die someday. Then, when discussing the return of Christ, I thought that everyone would just drop dead so that we could resurrect with Him. I’m glad that someone set me straight! This scripture makes it clear. When Christ comes back, those who are living will be changed without going through death. That is the exception to the “everyone must die” policy.
I have been including a Rich Mullins song with each post in this series. This song is written and performed by Mitch McVicker. Mitch was in the jeep with Rich on the night of the accident.
Rich’s Song
If you chase the horizon long enough,
Then you just might lose the dark
And you found the light or maybe it found you and I’m sorry you had to part
Until I think about where you are
You stepped behind a veil and then you just went on in
But you were here for awhile and that was such a gift
Do you know what I mean is?
I’m sure you smile a lot more than you ever did before
And I can hear you laughing and carrying on from here
But this world took it’s toll so you went on through that door
And I could tell it all was drawing near
I just had no idea it was so close
But He was always calling you home
He was always calling you home
And I have never known who heard His voice
But I’m almost sure you did
You had a way of hiding it,
But you walked along with Him
Oh, do you know what I mean is?
As I put words to your life they seem to come up short
The words meant a lot to you,
But you are so much more
I’m sure you smile a lot more than you ever did before
And I can hear you laughing and carrying on from here
But this world took it’s toll so you went on through that door
And I could tell it all was drawing near
I just had no idea it was so close
But He was always calling you home
I’m sure you smile a lot more than you ever did before
And I can hear you laughing yeah I can hear you laughing
But this world took it’s toll so you went on through that door
And I could tell it all was drawing near
I just had no idea it was so close
But He was always calling you home
From the day that you were born
He was calling you home
From the day that you were born
He was calling you home
He was calling you home
He was calling you home
You finally made it home
You made it home
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