On the Death of Prince

Here are some thoughts on the death of Prince I recorded Sunday.

Below is the article I wrote for WorldNetDaily.com

Prince has died.

He was found unconscious in the elevator of his Paisley Park Estate. This after reports of an emergency landing after a performance, due to “flu-symptoms,” according to his publicist. Reports are coming in that this may be a drug related death.

I don’t know. All I know is a musical virtuoso who mastered almost every instrument at an early age and was an amazing talent, has died.

Prince was a mix of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and a host of other influences with his own unique sound. As a guitar player alone he was beyond amazing, not to mention his body of work as a singer/songwriter. I remember seeing his performance during a tribute to George Harrison at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joining in on the Beatles classic, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Showing the link to friends I said, “This is the greatest lead guitar solo of all time!”

So much talent, now gone. I was sad to hear it.

Prince sold 100 million records. One of his most well-known songs, “Let’s Go Crazy,” by Prince and the Revolution, almost seems prophetic now.

Cause in this life
Things are much harder than in the after world
In this life
You’re on your own
And if the elevator tries to bring you down
Go crazy, punch a higher floor.

Ironic that on an elevator Prince Rogers Nelson, age 57, left this world for the next one.

Prince seemed to believe in an afterlife. In his song, “Let’s Go Crazy,” he also sings,

But I’m here to tell you
There’s something else
The after world
A world of never ending happiness
You can always see the sun, day or night.

Prince was right in this regard. There is an afterlife. And if your destination in the afterlife is Heaven, you can know that it is so much better than this life. The Bible describes it as a place of happiness, singing, feasting and being reunited with loved ones who died in faith and preceded us.

People often ask, “What is Heaven like?”

A better question might be, “What is earth like?” Take the greatest moments you have ever experienced on earth and multiply them times a thousand, and you will have a glimpse of Heaven.

Heaven is not a weak imitation of earth. Earth at its best is a pale imitation of this place called Heaven. In the Bible, Heaven is described as a place, a country, a city and much more. Heaven is a real place for real people to do real things.

Best of all, in Heaven we will see Jesus Christ. This promise, however, is only for the person who has put their faith in Him as their Lord and Savior.

Coming back to the elevator for a moment. There are two ways to go, up or down. If you are a believer in Jesus you will go up for sure. But what if you are not a believer in Jesus? Then, according to the Bible, you will go down. Just as surely as there is a Heaven, there is also a hell.

You might ask, “How could a God of love send anyone to a place as horrible as hell?”

The fact is, God’s does not send people to hell. If we end up there, we will have only ourselves to blame.

God doesn’t send people to hell, He saves people from hell. That is why Jesus Christ died on a cross 2,000 years ago. He paid the price for every sin you have ever committed. If you will turn from your sin and believe and trust in Him, you can be forgiven, and yes, you can go to Heaven when you die.

It was only two months ago that musical icon David Bowie died. He too sang of the afterlife.
Death is the great leveler, and no respecter of persons. Elvis, the King of Rock, has died. So has James Brown, the King of Soul. Michael Jackson, the King of Pop has died as well. And now Prince. But the King of Kings,Jesus Christ has died and has risen and is alive forevermore!

He holds the keys to the afterlife. Jesus said,

“I am the living one. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:18)

One day you and I will also die. But death is not the end. There is an afterlife, as Prince reminded us.

There is an inscription on a tombstone in England that reads:

Pause now stranger, when you pass by.
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be.
So, prepare for death and follow me.

Someone reading this epitaph is reported to have replied out loud, “To follow you is not my intent…until I know which way you went!”

I don’t know where Prince or Bowie went. Only God does. But I do know where I am going when I die.

I’m going up. Which way are you going?

To find out how to be sure you will go to Heaven when you die, visit my website:
KnowGod.org

This article was written exclusively for WorldNetDaily.com. It is used by permission.