Senator Ted Kennedy Dies at 77

Senator Kennedy has left this world to face whatever is next on his path. He was 77 years old. Was he really old? He wasn’t young. Life is fleeting. It’s here today and you wonder where yesterday went. I have almost 40 years before I reach 77, if the Lord so allows.

Seems like a long time. How many of us feel like just yesterday we were 18 or 25 or 35 or 45? Where did the time go? What will you do with the time left? Of all the battles in life Sen. Kennedy fought this last one had the only sure outcome. Whether because of his cancer or not, death was assured. No doubt he will be in the history books for various things. Some good. Some not so good. Some indifferent. Take a moment to read about his life at Sen. Ted Kennedy dead at 77 and ponder his legacy. Think. What will your legacy look like?

Kennedy was a very popular Senator. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer he always seemed to have the spotlight. He was very outspoken and a good target for conservative political pundits. Once diagnosed with cancer he pulled back from the public life a bit. I understand that. Who wouldn’t pull away and get the treatment needed? Not everyone does this the same way though. I’m reminded of John Piper’s provocative article Don’t Waste Your Cancer. Piper’s article is a bold one. It’s not your everyday cancer patients’ thoughts.

The problem is that we are all dying of a cancer. It’s called sin. Sin. Just think about it. We have all been diagnosed with sin. We are all going to die even if some of us live to be 100. The only answer to our sins which bring death is found in Jesus Christ. What if we took 60 seconds to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. Would it give us a renewed daily outlook?

Are we willing to take this cure, the Gospel, with us and share it with others? Or will we hide our cancer and go along like everything is okay? Do I keep doing stuff while pointing to my things, myself? What can all of this do for you or me?

If the causes I champion in this life point to me when I’m gone then they point to nothing. My body will be buried in a casket. What can I do then? A true legacy will be if my life points to Christ. He is not in a casket. His tomb is empty.

I often think – Will it by my legacy or Christ’s that my life points to?

Life is short. Consider your life. Don’t waste it. Hold onto Christ.

For what it’s worth…

Mark