Kobe Bryant and the Reality of Eternity

On January 26, I got a news alert on my phone that said Kobe Bryant (and 8 others, including his daughter) had died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles, CA. Like many, I was stunned and in disbelief. I’m not a huge NBA fan, and didn’t root for the Lakers, but I found myself asking and saying: “How can this be? This doesn’t seem fair.” 

In a moment - one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game and an iconic figure known around the world... gone.

In the following days, I read many articles and blogs encouraging people to remember the brevity of our lives, never take life for granted, and appreciate the people around us that we love every day. Those are undoubtedly true and appropriate reminders. 

But as I have reflected on this great loss, it has also been on my mind that surely no one on board that helicopter thought that January 26, 2020 would be their final day on earth. I wonder – where were those people’s hearts when it comes to the most important things in life? Had they considered the questions of where they will spend eternity and on what basis they might stand before God? Those are questions each one of us need to consider... 

Following this tragic event, most of the media attention was given to Kobe Bryant for all he accomplished on and off the court. But for as much as Kobe accomplished, his fame, resources, accomplishments, and money would not be what mattered most as he stood before God. 

It has been reported that Kobe and his daughter attended a church service before their fatal crash. 

Pastor Greg Laurie addressed this event, saying: “Death isn’t a respecter of people. It doesn’t care if you are rich or poor; religious or not; famous, infamous or unknown; or even the great Kobe Bryant, who had vast resources and money at his disposal. It knocks at every door, and sadly one day it will knock at your door and mine.” 

Following a tragedy like this, many people can’t help but question the timing and even the goodness of a God who could allow such a thing to occur. What we need to remember is, while this terrible crash was a shock to the world, God knows all of our days from beginning to end and His word says that all of our days are numbered (Job 14:5-7, Psalm 139:16). 

Some in Jesus’ day questioned the goodness of God for allowing seemingly senseless tragedies and suffering. Jesus responded to their turmoil in Luke 13: 

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Notice, Jesus doesn’t answer the “why” for why these events and others have occurred. Instead, He points the people to something more important for them to understand: Every person has a need to repent. If we do not, we will all perish sooner or later. 

BUT, God loved Kobe Bryant and you and I so much that He was willing to make a way for us to be with Him for all eternity by taking our punishment for the sin we committed on the cross and rising from the grave three days later. For all who put their trust in Jesus, God gives us the perfect record of Jesus and the gift of new and eternal life! 

You and I may not know when our day will come, but we can know for sure Who we will spend eternity with if we confess our need and put our hope in Jesus. This eternity, joy, and journey to heaven can be enjoyed even now as Jesus came to give us life to the max (John 10:10). 

I saw a phrase on a bumper sticker once that has always stuck with me, and I think it’s particularly relevant in light of this tragic event: “Life is short. Death is sure. Sin the curse. Christ the cure.” 

Jesus desires for each of us to be prepared to face the reality that though our days are finite, we were made for eternity. One day we will all stand before Him. Let’s be ready for that, by turning from our sin and trusting in the loving provision of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. That’s a life-changing decision that will reverberate for all eternity.