Posted on 10/07/2020 8:07:41 AM PDT by The Ignorant Fisherman
Dear friends, the death of Eddie Van Halen has absolutely rocked the music world and has hit millions upon millions of fans of all ages with sorrow, grief, and tears. To those of you who are not aquatinted with Eddie Van Halen because you lived in a Christian upbringing, I cannot even begin to express to you what the music world and its millions of fans are feeling right now! Eddie Van Halen was an Arch Icon and a Mega hard rock guitarist vanguard on so many fronts of the music world since the mid-seventies! His name alone - when spoken of - meant superiority in all that is guitar and music! His playing, trendsetting ways, party lifestyle, and EXPONENTIAL influence in music, culture, society, and the music world was beyond massive and may I say... totally EXPONENTIAL!
In the Christian world, Eddie Van Halen might be totally insignificant except for his manner of life outlived (Eph.2:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17); however, for someone like myself who was not raised in a bible believing home; but who was raised in the world who ate, drank, and lived this life till my ETERNAL salvation at 23, I am very very familiar with Eddie Van Halen, the music culture, its trendsetting ways in society and it's total rebellion against ALL that is Almighty God in RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 1:18-32, Eph. 2:1-2)!
The Lord Jesus PERFECTLY stated in light of ETERNITY and in light of Almighty God's ETERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS;
"What shall it profit a man (gain) if he should gain the whole world and ETERNALLY lose his soul" Mark 8:36
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt. 6:19-21
My dear friends, if anyone ever came close to gaining the whole world in our day it would have been Eddie Van Halen! The fame, fortune, genius, luxury, industry respect, women, excess upon excess upon excesses; all in the end was ETERNAL vanity without an ETERNAL saving relationship to our ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Creator! As far as we can see by words and actions; Eddie Van Halen publically demonstrated to all that he had absolutely no fear of Almighty God, nor an ETERNAL saving relationship to his ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Creator in RIGHTNESS (John 3:16-17; 36)! I have absolutely no pleasure in saying such things and I know that this biblical assessment of Eddie Van Halen will anger many; but Eddie's life truly is a warning to all that we are just dust and vanity as we walk this world and all that is light and life is to be found in our ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS Creator alone (John 1:1-14; 11:25-26; 17:3)!
The Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes is the tragic biography of Adam’s fallen race (i.e., humanity) told by the wisest of all men, King Solomon. King Solomon possessed it all: wisdom, brilliance, discernment, authority, prestige, riches/ wealth, property/ possessions, power, fame, women, and glory. Amazingly, as he was reflecting on his life in his last days, he made this very sobering and tragic statement: “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:1-15, 12:7-8).
In possessing all of this stature and achievement, it never satisfied the ETERNAL void of his heart. All of it did not - and could not - yield peace and contentment. In the end, all of Solomon's great achievements and pomp could never deliver him in the hour of his death. To Solomon, all indeed was truly dust in the wind...
Dust in the Wind, the title of a song released by the group Kansas in the late 1970s, is a melancholy piece regarding the terrible uncertainties and brevity of earthly existence. There is no certainty, no hope, no expectation, no solution, and no deliverance. The song is painted with pessimistic colors and presents a bleak and tragic picture with absolute abandonment and no salvation to be found. All we are is dust in the wind….
"All we are is dust in the wind..."
What the majority of humanity (and the song) greatly misses is that without Almighty God, our Creator and Sustainer and His righteousness, all is indeed an absolute tragedy, vanity and dust in the wind (Psalm 39:5). My friend, that was never God’s plan and purpose for His creation (Rom. 5:12-21). It is Almighty God’s sincerest desire that all would come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ and have ETERNAL LIFE. The Bible states:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17)
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…?" (Ezekiel 33:11)
"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost" (Matt 18:11)
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30)
Jesus said, "The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10)
Your existence here in time does not have to end in vanity. Almighty God has a great future plan and purpose for your life.
But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him"(1 Cor. 2:9)
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25)
"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 22:5)
Without Almighty God’s remedy for our sinful condition which is found only in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ, indeed all is truly vanity and dust in the wind.
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? " (Matt 16:26)
"Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah" (Psalm 39:5).
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:11-15)
In the end, Solomon fully comprehended that Almighty God was absolutely essential for the existence of man. To know Him is life ETERNAL with great expectation and purpose!
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl. 12:13,14)
Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? To know Him is to have ETERNAL LIFE and possess ETERNAL HOPE. May it be your sincere desire to know the One that made it all possible for you to have all of God’s highest and best for your life - both here in time and also for ETERNITY.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
its EVH own words verses Jesus own words..
Why are you so offended if you are a Christian??
A person can still be saved at the last second, no matter what kind of life he lived. See the parable of the laborers. The ones who only worked one hour, got the same wage as the ones who worked all day.
I don’t recommend we wait til the absolute last opportunity, of course, but I believe he gives us every opportunity to be saved, til the last possible second.
NO one man can damn another to hell. It’s not within the purview of men to make those decisions.
However, considering that most people do die unredeemed, according to Jesus Himself, it’s a fair likelihood that he did too, even if he was at a church and his brother is a pastor.
Church attendance does not save anyone nor does being related to someone spiritual.
We all answer to God for ourselves and cannot blame shift away sin or unbelief.
FWIW, I never heard of the guy before this either. I know nothing about him, but Jesus did say that by their fruit you will know them. And fruit is not darkening the door of a church or being related to a believer.
Thank you MM! You’re are the only one who gets the point! It’s really not even about EVH. A lot of confusion and rage at FR about Jesus and ETERNAL salvation (John 3:19-21). That’s one of the reasons for this post, to expose, show and test men and women’s hearts if they are in the faith or not.
We all need Jesus and those who know Him are saved by grace alone, as you well posted!!!
Thanks for your voice!
Hello, Persevero -
“Judge not” is a truncated portion of scripture that usually unbelievers use when their consciences are bothered.”
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That passage, unfortunately, is one used by many, many, Christians.
Christians are the same as Non-believers when it comes to having their actions (sins) found out.
In my walk with Jesus, I’ve felt it when crossing the line from being in righteous anger to fleshly anger. From joy to false pride. From grief to wanting my pound of flesh. Thankfully, and painfully, it’s usually brought back up into to my face by the Lord God.
When we judge others, at that moment, we are in the place of having to also be judged by the Lord God for a double amount for we’ve chosen to place ourselves above others.
So yes, while we are to judge, the context is everything. The heavier load of responsibility lies upon the shoulder of the Christian, not the non-believer.
Amen! That’s all I was trying to say!
You stated “The error is that Eddie Van Halen wasn’t a believer..” what the heck dude? I asked you how do you know as the article YOU posted says nothing.
No doubt..... and Amen... but there was way more to this post then EVH.. also was just pointing out what he said and did... He said it, I’m not throwing any one into hell... but man.. what a total bunch of Religious forum FR reactionaries! It speaks volumes!
There are some harsh replies to Fisherman’s earnest attempt to have folks realize their eternal destiny.
If you doubt Fisherman’s experiences, you should read Valerie Bertinelli’s ( First wife and mother to his only child)....own words of ‘ life with Eddie’
They both got into some serious drugs, and debauchery.
Lots of cocaine....lots of women.
But don’t listen to MR.Fisherman’s words at your own risk!
He’s trying to warn you.
Eddie had been fighting throat cancer for ten years.
He was a great guitarist.
Now he’s dead.
We all will be someday.
“Choose you this day who you will serve”
Encouraging to know!!,
I think excess got him in the end — the two headed monster of cigarettes and booze. Yet the combination got a lot of people and they were considered manly, rugged traits at one point. Watch a movie from the 40s and 50s and people were all drinking and smoking. Somebody walks into a room and you offer them a cigarette and/or some booze. It’s a terrible thing to slip into these habits unknowingly and then you end up relying on them. Eddie seemed like a typical musician: talented but insecure. You see him trying to combat his insecurities, especially in his solo guitar solos where he “winds up” before he takes the leap into the unknown. A lot of musicians feel that pressure of doing a solo piece — I think of Glenn Gould who hated the audience because he thought they were there to see him fall like a high wire act in a circus. There is even a Van Halen DVD was called “Without a Net.” So you have an insecure musician who has been flattered by his audience and the industry into believing he is a guitar God (whether he is or not, he certainly influenced the 80s). And so Eddie turns to drugs to combat his fears, the pressure and expectations of the industry and audience. No big shocker. It is a glamourous and self destructive cocktail from the media/Hollywood perspective — what artists are expected to do — and I believe it killed him in the end, in the same way it killed Humphrey Bogart. It also killed a lot of other rock musicians including another “guitar God”: Jimi Hendrix. There is a romantic presumption that a tough man can handle excess, can handle drink and we see this all the time played out in the movies. But a tough man can also stop himself and pull back from the edge before it’s too late. I don’t think Eddie did. Perhaps he wasn’t trained for it.
Also the Devil likes a good tune. Seduction is a key thing with evil. We have to be aware of what we’re dealing with, whether you believe in the Devil or not. You have to be aware of what critical parts of our being or mind we turn off in order to experience bliss. That takes courage. Some are fortunate to pull back from it and learn. Some aren’t. There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Thank you and well said! and Amen! That’s all I was seeking to communicate... As God as my witness I haved prayed for EVH as I do for Ozzy, DLR etc. . That is the world that Jesus saved me out! Also many in that world and in the political leftist world as well. It’s all about knowing Jesus in the end!
Search it here also at FR, did posts on praying for Hillary and Barry etc..
God’s peeps be praying... Eph. 5:16-17!
Maranatha!
He must have come a long way since "Running with Devil"... but those are sins of the past if repented as God tell us to. EVH had temptations that - while most dreamed of having - they become ALL consuming to the point of destroying ones human existence. It is always part of our fallen nature.
For anyone who thinks they can do God's job for him... don't... relax.. put your ALL your trust in God... God is in charge.
“Secondly, you’re no different in what you just said about RBG... lol”
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If you can, “lol” at the thought of people on FR grieving over the fact that RBG dies as an unbeliever....
I truly have deep sorry for you, as it goes against the very love of the Lord.
Bottom line: EVH is in the same place as RBG unless they had a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s God’s Word. It’s been in God’s Word for 2000 years and 50 years ago we used to accept it.
You complain about the demise of the country. Some even want it to “be Christian again.” Well “in Christ alone” is orthodox Christianity....and you reject it because of you passions snd sin.
Sorry if I fail to meet your standards. I readily admit that I’m a pretty pathetic Christian. I was taught that it was God’s prerogative to judge - not yours or mine. If that is incorrect I guess that I will have to find a way to bear the shame.
Have a good day.
Agreed.
But “judge not” is usually what we get sniped at is when we observe evil occurring or warn of a judgement to come. We are supposed to sit down and shut up at all times, piously denying that evil is going on. Which makes the cultural mandate incapable of being enacted, which plays right into Satan’s hands.
I will follow God’s command and “judge with righteous judgement,” d.v.
“I never heard of the guy before thi”
“However, considering that most people do die unredeemed...it’s a fair likelihood that he did too”
Yet, you pass judgment that is probably died unredeemed. You haven’t even heard of perhaps one of the most popular musicians of all time. Maybe you should get out more and judge less.
Good point. Eddie could have repented like the thief on the cross next to Jesus. I hope he did!
Jesus used the death of others to point out Biblical truth in Luke 13. He said “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”-13:3,5. Not a lot of difference. Unless YOU (and all) repent and believe-you will likewise perish.
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