If you told Billy Mays, OxiClean spokesman, that when he went to bed on Saturday, June 27th that he would die before seeing the sun rise, he would not have believed you. And yet he did.

If just one year ago, you asked Governor Sanford if he thought his marriage and reputation were about to crumble around him due to an affair to ensue with a ‘dear friend’, he would have scoffed. And yet it has.

If you told Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya that he would be forced to leave his own country in which democracy has been in place for nearly 30 years, he would have denied the possibility. And yet he was.

Ed McMahon died on Tuesday, June 23rd owing millions more than he ever gave away.

June 25th saw the death of Farrah Fawcett overshadowed quickly by the abrupt death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Although this past week has been full of news involving the deaths and demises of many of the ‘beautiful’ people(those previously thought untouchable by such realities as death and financial struggles), the fact remains that we are all human and the struggles of life happen to us all.

Death.

James 4:14b says, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

I don’t think that people believe themselves totally immune to death. I imagine we all have a somewhat healthy fear of it. And yet it is still really difficult to handle as it comes unannounced. Whether a pop culture icon or a nameless face in a backwards town that is equally unknown, death leaves a void. Someone is missing who was there before and it does not seem fair.

Immorality.

Proverbs 6:32 says, “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”

There’s something about power and status that seems to deliver the same treacherous result time after time. History is filled with politicians, business leaders, and ministers who all began their ladder climb towards success rung by rung only to find themselves on ground zero face down due to a demise caused by their own selfish actions.

Debt

Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding…”

I’m reading David Copperfield right now and there’s a character in the book who gives some very sound advice to young David. He says, “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.”

One hundred years later and we are still learning the same lesson that living on more than we make leads to destruction.

Freedom.

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

I wonder if it is plausible to say that freedom is relative. Even in America, are we really free? Or is there always something keeping us from experiencing true freedom?

Movie Stars, Athletes and Politicians…none are immune to the hardship that living life in a fallen world produces. And neither are we. We face death, financial struggles, tempting situations and fight for freedom in one way or another every single day in every single moment. Yet there is something quite wonderful that, regardless of status, gains us access to an eternity void of pain and suffering, and a provides a present full of hope and sustaining joy despite circumstances.

That, my friend, is a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you are already a follower of Christ, I challenge you to take it up a notch. Find ways to enrich your relationship. Don’t take even one day for granted but rather embrace the beauty found at all times even amidst ashes.

If you aren’t there. Why not? Salvation is not a “get out of Hell” card. It’s an introduction to the best life ever…here on earth and in eternity to come.

Is it always easy? Not really. Sometimes it’s harder, but it is definitely worth it.

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10b (The Message)