Lessons from John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Tragic Death
Dr. Carl W. Bogue, Jr.
No one who is conscious could have missed the almost continuous coverage of the deaths in the plane crash of which John F. Kennedy, Jr. was pilot. What a vivid national picture of the uncertainties of life! The media have painted many pictures of “what if?” Many are painfully aware of the reality that whatever might have been is no longer possible.
I thought of this during the past week as I worked on my sermon from Mark 3 on the “unpardonable sin,” the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The conclusion of the matter was that there is such a thing as a sin which is never forgiven. But those who are troubled about it are most unlikely to have committed it. If you can truly say sins are a burden to you, and that you desire forgiveness, and would give anything to attain it, be of good comfort! You have not yet, and, by God’s grace, never shall commit the unpardonable sin.
But it is also true, that being troubled about your sin is not the same thing as being converted. You may worry about such things and be very emotional about it and still go to hell. You must repent and believe the Gospel. Conviction is not conversion. God is, however, still graciously giving you opportunity to truly seek Him.
The key thing, therefore, is to assure yourself that you are not guilty of it. Flee to Jesus and He will not cast you out.
John MacArthur tells of an incident during World War II, when an American naval force in the North Atlantic was engaged in heavy battle with enemy ships and submarines on an exceptionally dark night. Six planes took off from the carrier to search out those targets, but while they were in the air a total blackout was ordered for the carrier in order to protect it from attack. Without lights on the carrier’s deck the six planes could not possibly land, and they made a radio request for the lights to be turned on just long enough for them to come in. But because the entire carrier, with its several thousand men as well as all the other planes and equipment, would have been put in jeopardy, no lights were permitted. When the six planes ran out of fuel, they had to ditch in the freezing water and all crew members perished into eternity.
There comes a time when God turns out the lights, when further opportunity for salvation is forever lost. The unforgivable sin is one such termination of opportunity. But there is also the termination of opportunity that comes with death. We always assume we have some more time when it may not be so. Such “garden variety” unbelief and rebellion is what faces us all the time. We need to know there is an unpardonable sin, but far more important for everyone is the knowledge that there comes a time when God turns out the lights on our life.
John Kennedy, Jr., his wife, and his sister-in-law did not leave New Jersey expecting to perish. Their whole lives were, it would seem, in front of them. That object lesson should be a “wake up call” for us.
The “press” goes on endlessly with poignant stories of “What if?”
What might have been IF this had not happened. Well, there are thousands every day who die “unexpectedly.” And the only question that really matters for the majority of them is, “What if they had settled things with Jesus yesterday?” Will someone tomorrow be asking of you, or someone you love, “What if he had surrendered to Jesus . . . TODAY? What if? But the lights are turned off!
That is why Paul told the Corinthians, “Behold, now is ‘The acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
Our small covenant children need to learn now to own the covenant with their God. They have much light and opportunity. Teenagers are without excuse, if they have not exercised obedient faith. And parents should be an example, because of the love of Christ. Our youngest, and our oldest, may never assume there will be a tomorrow. When all the opportunities for you are over, will someone be mourning your passing with “what ifs?” Not what you might have accomplished, but what if you had in simple faith, put your trust in Jesus Christ as the only Savior of sinners.
One who rejects full light can have no more light—and no forgiveness. There comes a time when God turns out the lights.
Carl W. Bogue, Th.D. is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America.