WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE ‘BEFORE THEIR TIME’?

 

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE ‘BEFORE THEIR TIME’?

Seat belts can prevent or reduce injury in case of an automobile mishap or a car accident.

Wearing your seatbelt as a front-seat passenger can limit your chances of moderate to fatal injury by 50% and of dying by 45%. (NHTSA).

• Wearing your seatbelt in a light truck limits your risk of critical injury by 60%. (AAA).
• Nationally, most (90.1%) of Americans use seat belts. (CDC).
• On average, 47% of people who die in car accidents weren’t wearing their seatbelts. (IIHS).
• 15,000 lives are saved every year by wearing a seat belt. (NHTSA).

The evidence is in, and still about 10% of drivers do not always wear a seat belt. WHY, you may wonder? Poor judgment, ignorance of the law, ignorance of the statistics, stubborn, lazy, defiant, or a combination. Therefore, about 5% of all drivers are killed in motor vehicle accidents just because they were not wearing a seat beat.

Do you find that (#1) sad, or (#2) stupid, (#3) unnecessary, or (#4) that they had it coming?

(Still, this writer believes they are entitled to their choices and beliefs until and unless it endangers others.)

The sign says, “DANDER – RISK OF DEATH FROM FALLING – Do not climb or cross this fence – do not go past this point.”

Still, in 2019 three people fell within weeks of each other. Two involved losing their footing while taking photos and one from wandering to close to the edge and slipping to her death.

Park personnel, signage, literature, brochures warn of the dangers. Still, since the 1800s, about 250 people have died in the Grand Canyon from falling off ledges.

WHY, you may wonder? Poor judgment, ignorance or stupidity, stubbornness, defiant, adrenaline junkies taking unnecessary risks.

Do you find that (#1) sad, or (#2) stupid, (#3) unnecessary, or (#4) that they had it coming?

(As sad as it seems, this writer still believes people are entitled to their choices and beliefs, until and unless it endangers others.)

The same things might be said, to one degree or another, about alcoholism, drug addiction, poor dietary habits, poor health maintenance and more. WHY, you may wonder, do we kill ourselves before old age, in so many ways?  Is it always poor judgment, ignorance or stupidity, stubbornness, taking unnecessary risks, thrill seeking, habits we form, addictions that trap us? I think the reasons are as various as the people who fall prey to an accidental or an unfortunate death.

I really wish that we, people, would make better decisions by being wise and careful, but that is not how humanity works. It is, well, crazy for the most part. We live then we die. How, when and why are the only remaining questions.

Two last things though.

My wife is wise and pragmatic, and she believes that no one dies before their time is up. But when they do die, it was their time, no matter how, when or why they died.

Secondly, and notwithstanding the wisdom of my wife’s belief on this matter, there is a way to perhaps mitigate or reduce the chance of an early and unnecessary demise – or at least an unnecessarily serious and lasting physical or emotional injury.

The Bible tells about the great benefits of knowing God, having faith in Jesus Christ, and the benefits of becoming a Christian and conforming your life to the standards and practices taught therein. It is like a shield against unnecessary trouble and a mighty spiritual strength to withstand those troubles that might beset you. It has been correctly said that the Bible and Christianity is not a set of rules which limit a person, but it is truth, a guidance which will set you free. It is not a barrier to keep you in, but a fence to give you protection.

For this and many other reasons, the Bible has been and continues to be the bestselling book of all times. It is impossible to know exactly how many copies have been printed in the roughly 1500 years since its contents were standardized, but research conducted by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 2021 suggests that the total number probably lies between 5 and 7 billion copies.

I could further my claim by referencing any of the thousands of theologians, pastors or Bible teachers who expertly teach that the Bible has done more to divert people from foolish and reckless behavior that leads to tragic deaths and widespread misery.

Instead, allow me to take an unconventional turn and introduce you to Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, author, psychologist, online educator, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto.

He has written three books, Maps of Meaning, an academic work, presenting a new scientifically-grounded theory of religious and political belief, and the bestselling 12 Rules for Life, and Beyond Order, which have sold more than seven million copies.

Dr. Jordan has long extolled the benefits of the Bible and Christianity on western civilization, although he had not become a professing Christian until around 2017.

Still, despite the centuries and mountains of empirical evidence of lives changed for the better and the stability and strength imbued to entire nations which have, at some level, professed and practiced the teaching of the Bible, in 2021 only about 140 million adults,  (42%), in the United States claimed to be practicing protestant Christians. Even with this many professing Christians, many do not practice the teachings and doctrines of this faith, exposing themselves to the dangers of errant thinking and dangerously risky behaviors.

If the Bible and Christianity truly leads to a more balanced, a safer, richer and a more protected way of life, WHY then, you may wonder, don’t more people seek the safety of becoming a Christian and practicing Christianity?

Is it poor judgment, misconception, ignorance, stubbornness, defiance, lack of belief or doubt, a need to fulfill the desires of passion and taking risks?

Do you find that (#1) sad, or (#2) confusing, (#3) unnecessary, or (#4) that they had it coming?

(As sad as it seems, this writer still believes people are entitled to their choices and beliefs, until and unless it endangers others.)

The Bible tells us that ‘there is nothing new under the sun’. People and things have always been as there are now. There may be new and better technologies that allow us to destroy ourselves and others more efficiently, but we are all simply prone to poor judgment – or as the Bible puts it, “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23).

Please don’t misunderstand, Christianity doesn’t make you impervious to dangers, harm and death. Even with the most ardent safeguards, Christians will encounter difficult and treacherous times in their lives, including death. Still, the Bible promises, “that even though there will be many tribulations for the righteous, God will rescue them”. (see Psalms 34:17-18). It is the mind and soul that is set on God (see Romans 8:6), trusting His promises, will find the strength and peace while enduring trials.

What is to follow, for those who believe, is an eternal home with God, in “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth will have passed away, and there will no longer be any sea. This is God’s dwelling place among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”.

God will say “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur, which is the second death.” (see Revelation 21:1-8).

Please dear friend. Don’t take the poorest of risks.  If you want adventure. If you need adrenaline, if you want risk that leads to life, choose God through faith in Jesus. Do it now!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young