A riddle for a cold March day:
How is Vladimir Putin like a lion?
How is Lebron James like a giraffe?
How is Frank Purdue like a chicken?
A hint for the answer is found in Psalm 49. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beast that perishes. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies.
A few summer ago I received a very unusual phone call. It was from a very famous and rich family in Stamford. If I were to tell you the name you would all recognize it. What occurred was this famous man had died and the pastor of the church he attended was on vacation. They needed a pastor. They must have reached the bottom of the list to call an evangelical pastor. I never turn down funerals.
I noticed something that day. This man, who was worth millions while he was alive, was the envy of many people. But no one envied him that day. No one wanted to change places with him that day.
During the funeral service I shared the gospel message that God can redeem our lives. He can give us an abundant life here on earth and then take us to be with him in heaven for all eternity. But that day the gospel was not welcomed. These were people who were to sophisticated for the simple gospel message.
To have faith in the God of resurrection is to believe that when we die, out of the darkness of the night, we go to the morning. It's to realize that God can pay the ransom, and he will take us home to be with himself. And that understanding changes everything. For the believer in Jesus Christ, we do not go out into death and into darkness. Instead we go home to God.
So back to the riddle…
How is Vladimir Putin like a lion?
How is Mike Tyson like a pit bull?
How is Lebron James like a giraffe?
How is Frank Purdue like a chicken?
They all die is the answer. Frank Purdue and his chickens all die. That is what they have in common. But if Frank Purdue died with no more understanding than the chicken, then he's no better than any of his chickens in the coup.
Because of Jesus and his Easter victory we know that after death there is life, after the darkness there is day, it totally changes our perspective. It gives you wisdom, understanding and eternal hope.
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