When The Day is Over

     I was relaxing with my wife on the sofa last night, and my daughter looked up from her I phone and asked, "Did you know that Robin Williams died? He killed himself." I was startled for a moment, then I responded, "Are you serious?" I quickly turned on CNN, and sure enough the reports were being confirmed. Actor and comedian Robin Williams was dead at the age of 63.


     Of course there were the obligatory reactions from those in the entertainment industry. Waves of shock and sadness came through via tweets, and not long after these were the first of the "mental health" consults. The prevailing question everyone was asking was, "How could this have happened?" It seemed all those checking in could not reconcile the fact that Robin Williams would have ended his own life given that he "appeared to have everything."


     We are all well aware that Mr. Williams had fame and fortune, and by the outpouring of emotional commentary from fellow entertainers, its a safe bet he had at least some friends from among these. These friends, as well as countless acquaintances and fans, were well aware of Mr. Williams life long struggle with substance and alcohol addiction, as well as depression. So we are really left with two questions; given Mr. Williams prodigious professional success, why did he struggle with depression and addiction so fiercely that he was hospitalized a number of times, and why did it all end with the man killing himself (at this point in time, suicide is suspected but not confirmed)?


     Lets be honest. Robin Williams is merely the latest in a history filled with tragic deaths of entertainers of all disciplines. Musicians, recording artists, actors, actresses, professional athletes, and on and on. I am a human being first, and so when I hear that someone has died who I am very familiar with, just like anyone else, its a shock to my humanity. But not long after I begin to ponder the unthinkable; where are they now?


     As a believer in Jesus Christ, I understand Who He is and why He came to the planet He created. Jesus Himself stated that He came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Mt. 5:17). He fulfilled the law by living a perfect, sinless life; He did not fall short of Gods perfect standard of righteousness. He fulfilled the prophets in that He was the promised Messiah and the Deliverer, whom the prophets foretold would come to the house of Israel. By fulfilling the law, Jesus destroyed the devils work (1 John 3:8). You see, by his deceptive lies in the garden he persuaded Adam and Eve to disobey Gods command to Adam to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16,17 - 3:1-7). As a result of this disobedience (this is what sin is, disobedience towards Gods commands) sin entered the world, and death through sin, which came to all men (Rom 5:12-14).


     Hebrews chapter 2, vs. 14 and 15 tell us that the devil held the power of death, and therefore held all of humanity in slavery because of the fear of death. But the Scriptures tell us that by Jesus death on the cross the head of Satan was crushed (Gen 3:15), and therefore his power over death was destroyed. This is the great love of God (John 3:16,17)!


     This is the unspeakable gift that was offered to Robin Williams, and is offered freely to every man, woman and child.


     The rejection of the gift of the Son of God has consequences that I cannot bear to consider for very long. Sin is a reality for every human being (Rom 3:23); what sin earns is a reality for every human being (Rom 6:23); and that each and every human being will die once and face Gods judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Revelation 20:14,15 tells us that the lake of fire is the final place of eternal residence for those who reject the Son of God.


     Where is Robin Williams now? I cannot answer that. I can without any doubt tell you that if Mr. Williams died having never accepted the forgiveness Christ purchased for him on the cross with His own blood, he is now and forever will be in an unspeakable place of torment (Mk 9:47,48).


     A more sobering warning can never be issued. I can only hope that Robin Williams did not exchange his soul for the temporary riches of this fleeting life.


     "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each mans life is but a breath." (Psalm 39: 4,5)