The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast Why Tragedies Lead Us to Eternity
Tragedies can be sudden, shocking, and heartbreaking—but they also remind us of life’s eternal reality. In Why Tragedies Lead Us to Eternity, Lynette Kittle reflects on 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 and explores how witnessing or experiencing loss can point us to the hope we have in Christ. Listeners will be encouraged to consider their eternal destination, understand the gift of salvation, and trust that Jesus has conquered death, offering everlasting life to all who believe. This episode is essential for anyone seeking clarity, comfort, and assurance in the face of life’s fragility.
✨ Highlights
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2 Corinthians 2:15-16: Christians are the aroma of Christ to the saved and unsaved
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1 Thessalonians 4:13: Comfort for those grieving with hope in Christ
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Hebrews 2:9: Jesus’ death and resurrection bring eternal life to believers
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Eternal choices: Daniel 12:2 and Matthew 25:46 explain the reality of judgment
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The futility of trying to cheat death vs. the promise of resurrection through Jesus
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John 5:24, John 8:51, John 11:25-26: Belief in Christ ensures victory over death
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Reflection: Do you know where you will spend eternity?
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Full Transcript Below:
Why Tragedies Lead Us to Eternity
By Lynette Kittle
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”--2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Our nation has witnessed some horrific tragedies including fiery plane crashes, destructive fires, devastating floods, explosive tornadoes, and more.
In all of these, we’ve witnessed individuals’ lives end in an instant, with no prior warning, leaving this world in a moment’s notice and headed for eternity.
Christians whose loved ones pass away have the hope of seeing them again, in eternity. But to those who don’t believe and haven’t accepted Christ as their Savior, there is no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13, explains, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”
The Good News is that Jesus has tasted death for us, so we don’t have to, and those who perish knowing Christ, move from life to life, walking into their new forever lives in a second.
Hebrews 2:9 explains, “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Bystanders to Tragedies Can Still Choose
Being witnesses and bystanders to these tragedies leads us to eternity. Even if we don’t know those who are leaving this earth, their passing lives remind us that we need to be ready for it.
Some individuals aren’t worried about dying, believing that their lives will just cease to exist at death, an eternal oblivion. But life continues after physical death, whether we accept Christ or not, our life will continue eternally. It’s just a matter of where we choose to live it.
Daniel 12:2 describes what is to come: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
In Matthew 25:46, Jesus describes what happens, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Cheaters Never Win
Others believe they can cheat death and live forever, hard at work trying to stop it from happening to them. But Hebrews 9:27 says it’s appointed unto each man to die once, so humans on earth are wasting their resources, time, and efforts trying to escape death.
As the Scripture explains, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”
But Jesus gives us a free pass from death and all we have to do is to accept His gift of eternal life, but if we reject it, then we’re on our own.
As 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 explains, “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Scripture makes it very clear, explaining over-and-over again how it works. Jesus said in John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
Again, in John 8:51, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys My word will never see death.”
How much more clear could He make it, saying yet again in John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
So the question for us to answer today is, “Do we believe?”
If so, then we don’t have to worry or be concerned about sudden danger, tragedy, and death because our eternity is already settled. We are ready for eternity without a moment’s notice.
Intersecting Faith & Life: If you should die today, or tomorrow, or next week, do you know where you will spend eternity? If not, you can settle your eternal destination right now, by receiving Jesus’ gift of Salvation, received through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.
Further Reading: How Do We Tell Others About Christ?
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