The Truly Grateful Dead
I find myself wondering how "grateful" Jerry Garcia is today (8/9/95). The 53 year old founder of the heretofore undying "Grateful Dead" rock band that is a holdover from the sixties counter-culture, died today in a drug rehabilitation facility of an apparent heart attack. According to newspaper reports, he was a long time drug abuser. Northwest area AM radio talk show hosts and their callers expressed their sorrow all day long at his passing. He was eulogized by long-time "Dead-head" fans from all over the country including a US Congressman. Major network news carried accounts of all night vigils held in his honor. Even major network conservative radio host, Michael Reagan weighed in, using some of Garcia’s Dead tunes as bumper music. While I, along with the God of the Bible, "have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," (Ezek 18:32), I am again reminded of the skewed value system of the world without Christ. Consider the throngs of "Dead head" concert goers at any one of the open air rockfests held around the country. Many of them will mourn this passing of yet another baby boomer icon. Then ask yourself how many mourned the death of Jeremiah or the Apostle Paul? Indeed, how many mourned the death of Jesus Christ?
In that long list of God’s faithful in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews (11:35-38), we are told of many who were tortured, mocked, scourged, chained, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, put to death by the sword, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, lived in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground, and finally, except for the words of Hebrews eleven, died without even an "honorable mention" from the world around them. "Men of whom the world was not worthy" (11:38) is the way the inspired writer describes them.
There comes a time in the life of every true believer when we have to decide which realm we will live for, the world now or the world to come. When you live for the world to come, don’t expect the world now to applaud. Don’t expect them to mourn your passing. Your reward awaits you in the other realm. You desire, again in the words of the Hebrew writer, "a better country, that is a heavenly one" (11:16). My hat is off today, not to the ones like Jerry Garcia, who choose life outside of Christ and receive all they will ever get right here and now, but to that great congregation of truly grateful dead who now await the city prepared for them and to all who now labor for Christ, waiting to join them.
Dave Redick is the Pulpit Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon. He may be reached at dave@preacherstudy.com .