This past Monday morning, I was shocked to find a message in my family’s group text about the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and several other people in a helicopter crash. Bryant was perhaps the most famous basketball player in the world due to his popularity not only in North America, but also in China and Europe. He retired several years ago, but still maintained a captive fan base. As a person who played basketball through high school and university, I followed all of Bryant’s career. Perhaps because of this close observation, the news of his death struck me like the passing of someone I knew personally.
I don’t recall, in my lifetime, seeing more publicity or reaction to the death of a person from any walk of life, not even royal families. Multiple professional sports leagues paid homage to Bryant, as well as postponing events. One comedy show host did a non-comedic show saying he thought it was inappropriate to continue after the news of the tragedy broke. The media has reached out for comments and opinions from athletes, coaches, and even politicians. It is a practical example in the study of worldviews. When tragedy strikes, we want an explanation that satisfies our beliefs. We want a mechanical cause that helps us understand why the helicopter went down. We want more than the simple answer that these lives are gone never to be known again. These observations reminded me of this text in Ecclesiastes 7 –
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind,
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. ESV
The timing of the tragedy is unique. It is the beginning of Super Bowl week. Many American’s hearts are turned towards pleasure and revelry. The “live for the weekend” mentality is vibrant. But then an event, simple and small from a global perspective, strikes a nerve that causes the world to take pause. In the Wuhan province in China, an outbreak of a new type of coronavirus has already killed many with the death toll expected to rise. We are receiving warnings in Uganda to be cautious as many Chinese citizens travel to Uganda for tourism and business. Why is it good to dwell on these tragedies?
There is one most important question in life that most people seek to avoid. Do I have peace with my Creator? Many people live in the moment. We smoke knowing it will most likely kill us, but it hasn’t killed us yet, so we continue. African nations have some of the highest rates of HIV in the world. Friends of ours who do ministry trying to get prostitutes to leave the local brothels have related to us that the rate of HIV positivity in brothels is perhaps 100%. If not that, it’s very near to it. And yet, the brothels have a steady stream of customers. We are so nearsighted that we destroy ourselves without considering the important questions. This is why the Bible describes tragedies like these as God’s mercy. They cause us to momentarily look up and think. The disciples asked Jesus about such tragedies in Luke 13 –
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” ESV
We want an answer to tragedies that assuages our fear and secures our beliefs, but this is God’s answer. We all need forgiveness. Unless we repent, we will likewise perish. God has overcome death, but we must accept his gift. We must pass judgment on our sin in agreement with him. Experience shows us that as time passes, these tragedies will be forgotten. Perhaps Bryant’s former team will win the championship this year and say nice things about his legacy, but soon the nerve touched by Bryant’s passing will quiet. Most will return to the house of mirth not remembering this warning to look up. Our prayer as believers should be that through these things, there are some who look up and ask themselves the hard questions about their relationship with God. And that they would find peace with him and newness of life in the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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