For, “All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers,
And the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25
The world was shocked yesterday. Kobe Bryant, the world-renowned basketball player was dead! Killed in a horrific helicopter crash along with seven other meaningful lives, one being that of his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gianna Marie Bryant, a promising basketball player in her own right.
Utter shock and disbelief grasped the hearts of the world. How and why...infiltrated the hearts and minds of many people yesterday as well as today! It’s unfathomable! Some people come along and accomplish great feats that make them seem bigger than life itself, but then life demonstrates its unpredictability and ultimate control! Moments like these are never easy as they began to call into question our very own existence and mortality. The question begs to be answered by us all, how much time do we have left?
The Apostle Peter states in 1 Peter 1:24 that, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” The author lets us know with no uncertain terms that life is fleeting. It’s temporary. No one lives forever. No matter who we are, what we’ve done or accomplished, it is inevitable that life as we know it will come to an end.
But even amid tragedy, there is still hope! The second part of that verse, 1 Peter 1:25 says, “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Despite the unpredictability of life, God has left us his word, which has the power to encourage us, sustain us, correct us, and comforts us even in the most darkest days of our lives. Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Bryant, Altobelli, Chester, Mauser, and Zobayan families during this horrific loss. We may never understand why things happen in life, but we can be grateful that we have the word of God to get us through it. In the days, months, and years to come, may the word of the Lord embrace us all as we travel down the road of this life, which is so unpredictable?
Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy. Although, we don't know what is around the corner of our lives, we trust you to fulfill everything you say in you word. Your words extend throughout eternity. May your words continue to provide us guidance, peace, and comfort in our lives as we travel down the road of unpredictability.
Dr. Stephone A. Berry is an Associate Minister at Christian Faith Fellowship in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in Ministry Studies and earned a Doctorate of Ministerial Leadership from Columbia International University.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
After yesterday, this really resonates with me as far as an unexpected event. In addition to this tragic event, my wife received the difficult news that she lost her sister. The unexpected was we were all focused on the other sister who was only given 2 weeks to live because of her bout with cancer. Nobody, saw the passing of the other sister whose health had declined rapidly. I reminded my wife about a message I did sometime ago; "I Didn't See That One Coming." Besides the scripture you shared, I also shared James 4:14a, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow."
The "unpredictability of life" is real and we don't see the "unexpected" coming…