Job 36:13-14 (NLT) For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help. 14 They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living.

It has to be one of my favorite quotable song lyrics for almost any preaching occasion. Billy Joel wrote and sang: “I’d rather laugh with the sinners that cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun. You know only the good die young.”

Whenever a bigger than life celebrity dies, I think of that song. And while I think Billy Joel is way off, it make me think of Job 36.

God has a completely opposite point of view toward celebrities who pass on early in life. Our world heralds them as heroes, God says they wasted their lives serving themselves and believing their own press.

Then I turn to Psalm 91. The last verse in that Psalm has to be one of my favorite “life” verses in all the Bible. For the whole Psalm you read of God’s protection and provision for those who stay close to Him. They take refuge, they have protection through God’s angels, and because they love God, He will rescue them!

Awesome.

But my favorite verse is 16: “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Think about it. People may live a long time – but few are truly satisfied with it. God’s promise to those who follow close to Him is not just a long “time” on Earth but a satisfying one. Serving, knowing, and loving Him.

Come Sunday – you will know what that means more than ever as we close out our Series “Crazy Family”

Peace.
PT