WHEN A HERO DIES
REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KOBE BRYANT
One of the greatest Christian thinkers, Jonathan Edwards, once wrote that he had prayed that God would 'stamp eternity on his eyeballs'. Three realities drove this into his mind as he considered early in life how he would order his time on earth with this perspective:
1) The Shortness of Life
2) The Length of Eternity
3) The Suddenness of Death
We have been painfully reminded of the suddenness of death with the passing of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. A man that many viewed as somewhat immortal and invincible is gone like the wind. For many in my generation, Kobe was superheroesque with his unparalleled competitive spirit, work ethic, and seamless ability to make it all look so easy with a smile that lit up the bright lights of Los Angeles and arenas worldwide. He was world famous by the tender age of eighteen, and though he grew to be beloved by millions internationally – he never sought the party life that plagues many noted celebrities. He was singularly focused on being the best basketball player he could become. His death, unlike others who occupy worldwide attention and affection, was not self-inflicted or foreseen by any, it was sudden and shocking. Alongside his beautiful daughter, were several others who suddenly passed without warning.
Many are having a difficult time with his sudden death because we have watched him grow into the Hall of Fame champion basketball player and had transitioned well into a committed family man. Though retired from basketball, Kobe was also passionate about a few post-career endeavors in which he was already succeeding. The same reason so many loved Kobe for his work ethic was growing in legend as he was becoming great in anything he laid his eyes on. For many, we in some ways grew up with Kobe though he was a distant stranger so far as true relationships go. We live in an interesting time due to technology and media in which we feel a certain connection with people we will never meet, though we are able to view their lives from a distance at a moment’s notice.
I have vivid memories of wearing Kobe’s ugly shoes in sixth grade and then again as a varsity player in High School. It mattered not that they were clunky and uncomfortable, only that they had an 8 or Kobe’s name on them. I donned his jersey on the always critical first day of school outfit. His posters covered my walls into my twenties. Kobe is my all-time favorite athlete. I constantly reference him when illustrating hard work and dedication in sermons and writings. It’s been said that you never outgrow your heroes – and though I did realize in my teens that NBA stardom would likely elude me as a scrawny mildly athletic 5’8’’ player, I never outgrew my love for Kobe’s passion for excellence and pursuit of greatness.
As I’ve been processing his sudden passing, I'm reminded of the scene from the recent DC Comics franchise movie, Justice League. The invincible hero, Superman, died in the previous movie and the opening scene begins with an eerie soberness of all society stunned and mourning the loss of their once-thought indestructible hero. They never imagined that someone who represented courage and strength could possibly die. Kobe's passing is a painful reminder that no one is immortal, life is short, death is quick and final - and is not partial. Superman is dead. Yes, even our heroes die.
· "For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them." - Ecclesiastes 9:12
· "...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." - James 4:14
This cultural hero was given a nickname The Black Mamba. The mamba is a poisonous snake known for its deadly venom. Yet, this specific snake is subtle but extremely dangerous not because of its venom, but that it strikes with little to no provocation. Kobe played basketball and approached life this way. He was a killer on the court and needed little motivation to spur him towards his achievements. Like a sudden unprovoked snakebite, many are wrestling with the sudden sting of the death of this athletic hero. Death has a certain sting to it.
The Bible tells us that the only hope beyond this life is to trust in the one true immortal One who came and WILLINGLY died in place of any and all who would believe in Him. The interesting thing about Jesus is that He is the true hero – immortal, immovable, omniscient, omnipotent in every way – yet He humbled Himself and came to us to express His love to mankind. Christ is the grand narrative of God in creation in which the hero actually dies for the villain (you and I) in spite of their rebellion against Him. Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross and died - only to rise from the grave and conquer death. Jesus is the hero we all so desperately need; yet, sadly, many will reject.
Have you believed in Christ? Are you ready to die? Are you ready to meet God and stand before Him to give an account for your life? If not, please email me at nrbcpastoradam@gmail.com
Death is never fun, yet for the Christian, it marks a beginning of eternal peace in the presence of God based on belief in the salvation offered through Jesus. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the early church, there is a sense in which the Christian laughs at death because of the victory provided through our Hero:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:54b-56 ESV
These tragedies grip us and we must be better for them. We must learn from them. We must learn to value the precious moments allotted to us and not require such tragedies to do so. May we look to such tragedies and hug our loved ones tighter, forgive those who hurt us quicker, love our families deeper, help those in need more readily, and strive for greatness in all we do. May we leave no hour unlived to our best God given abilities. And more than anything, may we look to the One Hero who defeated the gruesome sting of death and offers the same to those who trust Him as Lord.
Adam Denny
Pastor, North Run Baptist Church
The sermon I preached a few weeks ago emphasizes these very truths.
"Following Jesus and An Eternal Perspective"
https://vimeo.com/384359122