Death is no respecter of persons. The Bible tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment comes. The recent deaths of some Hollywood celebrities should cause us to ask several questions about ourselves:

•  Are we absolutely sure that if we died right now we would go to Heaven? Jesus Christ has provided the way to the eternal glories of Heaven through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and His triumphant resurrection from the dead. If we receive His free gift of salvation and become children of God, we are assured that if we are absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord. If there is any doubt concerning our salvation, we must take care of it now, because God tells us that the time of salvation is now. No one is promised to live another second.

•  Are we ready to meet God face to face? The Word of God encourages us to plan as if we will live forever and to live as if we are living our last day on earth. We should consistently be ready for the day of seeing Jesus Christ face to face. We should live as if we will see Him in just a few minutes.

•  What things matter the most to us? Temporal things pass away, but the person who does the will of God lives forever. Our lives are to be wrapped up in eternal matters. Loving God, going to church, reading the Bible, praying, and investing our souls in others should mean the most to us, because only what’s done for Christ will last eternally.

•  When our names are mentioned, what is the first thing that others think about? We spend a lifetime building a reputation. A reputation is precious. Proverbs 22:1 tells us, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” A person who values his testimony in front of others will do much to further the kingdom of God. The child of God needs to live up to the name Christian for the sake of God, himself, and others.

•  Whom do we seek to please? The primary responsibility for God’s children is to glorify God. We must not allow the applause of men or the satisfaction of self to get in our way of fulfilling our responsibility to God. Even if the whole world were to praise us, and we lose our own souls, what profit is there?

•  What kind of example are we setting for others? The Bible tells us to be an example of a person living in obedience to God. Jesus encourages us to let our lights shine before men so that others can see God and glorify our Father Who is in Heaven. When you ask yourself if those in Hollywood are setting the right example for us and for our children to follow, the answer is an obvious “no.” When you ask if a good, dedicated Christian is setting the proper example, the answer is an obvious “yes.”