The Real Tragedy

This Tuesday will be the 24th anniversary of the car accident in Paris that killed Princess Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed. This tragedy resulted in outpourings of grief from all over the world. At Diana’s funeral, Elton John sang a revised version of his hit “Candle in the Wind” as a tribute. That recording went on to become the second biggest selling single in history (behind Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”).

However, the real tragedy is that Diana might not be in heaven right now. In his book “Good or God”, John Bevere wrote about how he spent much time grieving over Diana’s death until the Spirit of God instructed him to read Revelation 18. Verses 5 through 7 stood out…

“In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her…”

The Lord later told John, “She [Diana] flaunted her defiance to authority and her adultery to the world. She wasn’t submitted to Me.” John then brought up all the good works Diana had done. He eventually heard the Spirit of God say, “There is a good that is not of Me.” As Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

I’m not judging Diana. I’d rather think of her making it through the pearly gates instead of being tormented in hell. Regardless, we must always be ready for eternity and not depend on our good works for salvation.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” - Matthew 7:22-23