A Tragedy

“It is a tragedy.”  These words were repeated often in the last several days in response to the death of Dale Earnhardt, the racecar driver known as “The Intimidator.”  He crashed head on into the wall of the racetrack on the final lap of the Daytona 500 race.  He was 49 years of age.  Both fans and NASCAR personnel could not believe he had died. What makes it so hard for people to believe and accept his death?

One reason is probably his age and health.  People 49 years old, and in good health, are not supposed to die.  When he entered the racecar to begin the race he was fine. Throughout the race he was as alive as anyone else on the track. Another reason people probably found it hard to believe he died last Sunday was the number of crashes he had experienced before and always walked away.  He had been hurt before, but he always lived and returned to race again.  And then there is the rapid response of the medical people to crashes in NASCAR races. These and no doubt other reasons make it hard for people to accept the death of this man.

Is his death a tragedy?  Certainly, especially for his family, friends, and members of his racing team.  But it serves as a warning to everyone that death does not come when we think it is time.  Death can come when we least expect it.  As I write this article, the local news reported the death of a high school student from an accident on the way to school on icy roads.  Is this also a tragedy?  Yes, every bit as much as the death of Dale Earnhardt.  The passing of this teen will not be mourned by millions, the local news media will not comment on it for days and there will be no televised memorial service; but it is very much as tragic as the famous racer for family and friends.  Both have left this earthly existence and entered into the eternal realm and left behind family and friends.

The tragic circumstance of death is repeated daily as people from all walks of life, all ages, all types of physical conditions, die for all sorts of reasons.  Humans cannot prevent death; it is at best merely postponed.  The Psalmist summed up this tragedy of death this way: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).  The Hebrew writer reminds us of the appointment everyone has with death:  “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Have we become hardened to the reality of death so that it does not affect us unless it is a loved one, or a sports hero?  The most tragic aspect of any death is one entering eternity unprepared for the judgment.  I do not know the condition of either of the two referred to above, that is now in God’s hands.  But there are about 250,000 precious souls living in Forsyth County, North Carolina, who need to hear the good news of Jesus and make preparation to meet God in the judgment.  We do not know if they will have another day to hear, so we must look for and take advantage of every opportunity available to tell them the old, old story.

—Denny