Be Ready
Dan Kunz
We know death is part of life. Whether it’s people, animals, or plants, we know living things on this earth don’t live forever. Our family was reminded of that fact very abruptly a couple of weeks ago. My cousin’s 48-year-old son, a county forester in Wisconsin, was struck and killed by lightning while working in the field. He left behind a wife and three children. As an outdoorsman as well as working out-of-doors, he was well aware of the dangers of lightning. Because he was working by himself, we’ll never know the details, but the strike which killed him may have been the only one which was part of a “pop-up” storm. He would not have stayed out in a thunderstorm or threatening weather. It appears the lightning hit the metal button on the top of his ball cap and he was killed instantly.
Although lightning is very common, deaths caused by lightning are very rare. Only about twenty people per year are killed by lightning in the United States. It is a powerful force which is almost beyond comprehension. The temperature of a bolt of lightning is approximately 30,000 degrees Celsius – five times hotter than the sun. Even though a bolt appears large, it is only 2-3 centimeters wide but can be 2-3 miles long. The flash from lightning travels at the speed of light, but the actual electrical charge travels at “only” 270,000 miles per hour!
As sad as Adam’s death is, it also serves as reminder to all of us to always be ready for the sudden death which could happen to any of us at any time. Mark 13:33 Watch! Be alert and pray, because you do not know when the time will come. While this passage is a warning about the sudden nature of Judgement Day, it could also apply to our “personal” Judgement Day. It’s unlikely any of us will be killed instantly by a bolt of lightning, but it does happen. A sudden end to our time of grace could come in the form of a traffic accident, a heart attack, aneurysm, or some other “freak” circumstances. Several years ago, a local man was killed while he and his wife were driving down the highway at the start of a vacation, when heavy winds caused a tree to fall on their vehicle. No one is promised tomorrow!
How can we be ready? First and foremost, our “eternal life” insurance needs to be up to date. Jesus died on the cross for all, but only those who believe that receive the benefit of his sacrifice. Stay connected! Your relationship with God should never be neglected. Make sure your relationship with your loved ones is healthy and thriving as well. Show and tell people you love them. You may not see them again this side of heaven. If others are dependent on you for anything, you need to provide for them. Most people put off writing a will, but that can create huge problems for those left behind.
The suddenness of Judgement Day or death is described in a variety of ways in the Bible. “Like a thief in the night” or “in the twinkling of an eye” are a couple of examples. We may not know when our time here will end and it may seem morbid to start each day by contemplating our mortality, but it will certainly help us be ready if this is our last day on earth!