Kobe Bryant, From His Own Mouth, Trusted Jesus Christ as His Saviour and Is Now in Heaven, Not in Hell. The Question Now Is, If You Were to Tragically Die Today Where Would You Go Heaven Or Hell? (GLMX #424)
This is the “chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me.
James 4:14 reads, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Hebrews 9:27 reads, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Kobe Bryant, the retired five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, died tragically and unexpectedly on January 26, 2020 at age 41 when his helicopter crashed into a mountainside near Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, head baseball coach at Orange Coast College John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their 14-year-old daughter Alyssa, wife and mom Sarah Chester and her 13-year old daughter Payton, basketball assistant coach Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan. The group of nine were en route to a basketball game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park. These young people with their lives ahead of them were not expecting to die and no one was prepared for the news of their tragic passing as they left behind grieving spouses, children, parents, siblings, friends and coworkers. We have prayed for all of the families impacted since this tragedy happened.
As millions around the world mourn the sudden and untimely death of Kobe Bryant, who by all indications was just beginning his new life outside of basketball having already won an Academy Award, the Bible reminds us that all of us will die one day. You may not know how or when but one day you will pass into eternity.
Most of us expect to live long, fulfilled lives where we will be able to “prepare” for death at a ripe old age, such as by making our own funeral arrangements and writing a will. Some say they will think about death “later” and sadly many do not think about death at all or about what comes after.
Following his untimely death, Randy Shepherd and Jamie Johnson of Crossfire Ministry shared a picture they took with Kobe Bryant in London at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This picture comes with a story. Shepherd recalls: “[W]e were telling different guys about Crossfire basketball ministry, and Kobe was there.”
The photo opportunity happened quickly at the Team USA hotel. That encounter gave Shepherd and Johnson a chance to ask Kobe about something bigger than basketball.
Shepherd told News 13, “He was gracious, his bodyguard stepped out of the way. And I said ‘Kobe, have you ever invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Lord and Savior?’ A question I’ve asked a lot of people from kids to the president and he said, ‘yes, I’ve done that’.”
After posing for the picture, they gave him a Crossfire testimony Gospel card.
Now, like everyone else, Shepherd and Johnson are shocked at his death.
Johnson said, “I hope each of us takes a moment to stop and think about what lies ahead. We are not promised tomorrow and it is not a bad idea to ponder what comes next after we die. The Bible says, we are not promised tomorrow. And tomorrow in the Bible means, at some point we will die and we don’t always know when. Therefore it is important for each of us to tackle the question, ‘Where am I going when I die?’ Yes, Kobe will be greatly missed for different reasons, family, sports influence and more, but assuming he placed his faith in Christ [as he told us], along with the others, they’ll all spend eternity with Jesus Christ.”
Kobe Bryant’s death and the deaths of the eight others who perished with him on that fatal helicopter ride, remind us that we all have an appointment with death. Hebrews 9:27 reads, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” You might guess that your death is a long way off, when it might be as soon as…today. So dear friend, you need to think about death and you need to prepare for your death and what comes after. If you do not know how to do that here is how:
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:8: “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at [email protected] and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!
God Bless You!
Let me leave you with this prayer. If you pray this daily it will help prepare you for the eventualities of life:
God, prepare us for good days and bad days,
prepare us for celebrations and tragedies,
prepare us for weddings and funerals,
prepare us for life and death.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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