The Jumpers of 911

      I have often thought of the momentary nature of Life. It passes quickly and what we have to do, we have to do. The Bible refers to life as a fog that sets in the morning, and burns off with the heat of the afternoon sun.

     My wife worked at a local hospice for a year, and had the privilege of being the last person on earth that many dying patients saw, as they were ushered out of this life.

     I’ve often considered the “nature of the beast.” Scripture tells us that “It is appointed unto man once to die.” (Hebrews 9:27, KJV) Somehow we live as if we will be the one exception to the rule. In the movie, “What about Bob,” a little fella scares ”the living daylights” out of a psychiatric patient with “I’m going to die. You’re going to die. We’re all going to die. What does it matter whether it happens today, or fifty years from now, (much sooner in your case), we’re all going to die.”

     I’ve reflected on the preparation any generic person has before death overtakes them. Some linger with a chronic illnesses for years, and they are given more than an adequate opportunity to repent, and “turn to the Lord.” With others, death overtakes them in a moment; the victim of a terrible car crash or homicide.

     I was watching a war documentary the other night and was horrified with the story of War World II bombers, and how that they were often cut in two parts, as they collided with other allied or enemy aircraft. You can see these tiny little dots fall out of the fuselage, and realize that they are crew members, thoroughly unprepared for the alien environment of space. And they fall, and they fall, and… they fall.

    Just as amazing and poignant is the footage of “the jumpers” who attempted to escape the fires of 911. The film clips have rarely been shown, but I’ve seen a couple in the past several years. Given the “opportunity” to either burn or jump, these hapless victims fell a thousand feet to the pavement below.

    What must the aircraft crew members, or victims of 911 have thought as they plummeted to their death. Their preparation for the inevitable was short, but almost eternal in the scheme of things, as others have died without a moment’s warning.

      I’m convinced that we are all given Time. We have all had time enough. “For whosoever will call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13, KJV) and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31, KJV) I’m convinced that we are all given an opportunity to call upon That Wonderful Name that is above all names.

     But tomorrow is always a day too late.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Unconventional Devotions" Copyright 2005

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