Wacko Jacko & Oz Lotto - bizzare!

Surely Michael Jackson's death is a reminder that death happens to everyone - even if untimely and that money solves nothing - in fact it often creates problems! Following on from the GFC you would have thought that the lesson of 'you can't take it with you' had been spelt out for all the world to see. If the circus surrounding the Oz Lotto draw is anything to go on - we don't seem to have learnt much at all.

I am not suggesting going in the draw was sinful or that having a little bit more money wouldn't be welcomed. Rather I am suggesting that these two events highlight the same thing - we want control of our lives so that we are not answerable to anyone - but death undercuts that 'fantasy' with the reality that we will one day have to face up to God for an account of our lives - whether we have lived with wealth or without it.

The Christian hope which is freely available to us all rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We can't add to it - we can't take anything from it - all we can do take hold of it as the most precious gift of all - the offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

The fantasy that Michael Jackson tried to live at Neverland evaporated and ended with his untimely death and the fantasy of a care free life which big lotto draws hold out to us are mythical. The life we all long for is yet to come - the best we can do is get ready for it - the only way we can - by faith and trust in Christ. If we do that - then whenever death claims us - as it surely will - their will be a higher claim registered over our life - and it will be Jesus saying, 'He/she is mine, come into the kingdom I have prepared for you!'

If we have learnt anything from this week - surely it is that life is short - and that no amount of money quench our deepest desires - only Jesus can do that!

'Where O death is your victory, where O death is your sting....thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord'
1 Cor.15 55-56