It's no surprise that the untimely, premature, and unexpected death of Robin Williams has captured both our hearts and minds. After all over the years we've invited him into our homes and paid to be entertained by him. To say that he was a comic genius is still not the accolade that we feel best describes his talent. His creativity, his quickness, his expressions have fascinated us to the point eliciting our admiration and dumbfounded response . . . "How could anybody do that?"
The tweeted reactions declare our loss and echo a hope, possibly unfounded, that he is now entertaining angels in heaven. Robin's search for personal happiness and fulfillment led him such that he ended his life this side of heaven by asphyxiation, hanging by his belt.
Heaven is a part of our Christian belief system - it has made its way into the fabric of our collective DNA and consciousness. Unfortunately what so many apparently believe is heaven is 'our gift' to someone we love, care for, or has undergone suffering or endured difficult circumstances. As comforting as that is for us it has no Biblical foundation all by itself. God's Word is rather emphatic that heaven isn't a reward for good people but for those who choose on their own to be a part of the family of God. As great as our deeds, acts of kindness, or charitable giving might be they are not the 'entrance ticket' many may hope for them to be. To appeal to anything other than the work of Christ on Calvary's cross would be to both deny and defy the mission of Jesus who came to see and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
The man who provided so much happiness through is incredible, yes even God-given talent searched in vain for his own inner sense of peace. What he discovered was that all those things, all those many accomplishments, acknowledgements, possessions, and fortunes that we so often desire resulted in an emptiness that seemed to have no answer.
Admittedly I know nothing of his faith, be it great, small, or non-existent so I make no judgement. I am also willing to admit that taking one's life, even though it is a deliberate act of the will, can be a disease, a mental health issue. Just as I'd not think less of someone who died of a dreaded disease like cancer I can think no less of one whose mental health drives him to do something that ends life as abruptly as suicide.
Life should be so much more than survival. Jesus himself said, "I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). As I heard it expressed earlier today it's not survive, it's thrive.
Augustin said many centuries ago about God, "You made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." I hope along with many that somewhere Robin Williams made his peace with God through Jesus. It would certainly help me and many others to say with Biblical confidence that Robin is enjoying the place we call heaven. I hope that he now has the happiness that has eluded him. Believe it or not Blaise Pascal, another of the great Christian philosophers, as said, "All men seek happiness, this the motivation of every action of every man, even those who hang themselves."
I declare as one born-again believer I find not only my joy but my happiness in Jesus!
The tweeted reactions declare our loss and echo a hope, possibly unfounded, that he is now entertaining angels in heaven. Robin's search for personal happiness and fulfillment led him such that he ended his life this side of heaven by asphyxiation, hanging by his belt.
Heaven is a part of our Christian belief system - it has made its way into the fabric of our collective DNA and consciousness. Unfortunately what so many apparently believe is heaven is 'our gift' to someone we love, care for, or has undergone suffering or endured difficult circumstances. As comforting as that is for us it has no Biblical foundation all by itself. God's Word is rather emphatic that heaven isn't a reward for good people but for those who choose on their own to be a part of the family of God. As great as our deeds, acts of kindness, or charitable giving might be they are not the 'entrance ticket' many may hope for them to be. To appeal to anything other than the work of Christ on Calvary's cross would be to both deny and defy the mission of Jesus who came to see and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
The man who provided so much happiness through is incredible, yes even God-given talent searched in vain for his own inner sense of peace. What he discovered was that all those things, all those many accomplishments, acknowledgements, possessions, and fortunes that we so often desire resulted in an emptiness that seemed to have no answer.Admittedly I know nothing of his faith, be it great, small, or non-existent so I make no judgement. I am also willing to admit that taking one's life, even though it is a deliberate act of the will, can be a disease, a mental health issue. Just as I'd not think less of someone who died of a dreaded disease like cancer I can think no less of one whose mental health drives him to do something that ends life as abruptly as suicide.
Life should be so much more than survival. Jesus himself said, "I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). As I heard it expressed earlier today it's not survive, it's thrive.
Augustin said many centuries ago about God, "You made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." I hope along with many that somewhere Robin Williams made his peace with God through Jesus. It would certainly help me and many others to say with Biblical confidence that Robin is enjoying the place we call heaven. I hope that he now has the happiness that has eluded him. Believe it or not Blaise Pascal, another of the great Christian philosophers, as said, "All men seek happiness, this the motivation of every action of every man, even those who hang themselves."
I declare as one born-again believer I find not only my joy but my happiness in Jesus!
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