"Munson's Sudden Death a Reminder to All of Us"

"Thurman Munson is near the end of his career," I heard Yankee TV announcer Phil Rizzuto say 40 years ago tonight.  (Munson, all banged up with bad knees, was unable to play his usual CATCHER'S position that night and was defending at first base, leading to Rizzuto's speculation.)

That quote was the first thing I thought of the next day, August 2nd, 1979, when I learned that the Yankee Captain, the first since Lou Gehrig, died as the plane he piloted crashed. 

You see, Munson may or may NOT have been near the end of his CAREER...he could still HIT, and the American League had had the Designated Hitter rule for 6 years at that point.  Thurman might have done very, very well in that capacity.  He was only 32, and the DH spot could EASILY have given him ANOTHER 6 years in professional baseball WITHOUT having to catch OR play first.

But no one could have dreamed that, 40 years ago tonight, Thurman was near the end of his LIFE.

And that's what I want us to think about tonight, tomorrow, and always.

Hey, I am now twice the age THURMAN was when he passed into eternity so suddenly. You may be YOUNGER than Munson was, you may be OLDER than Munson was, you may be older than ME, even.  But one thing is for sure...unless you and I are alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, WE WILL DIE.

And I know a lot of people believe that they need to get right with God NOW, but they say "I'll wait till I see death coming.  I'll live as I want, until then.  I'll do my own thing.  Then, when I see death coming, I'll repent (like that thief on the cross who got saved at the very end) and Jesus will take ME to Heaven with Him, like He did to THAT guy."

Let me be clear, Jesus WILL take you to Heaven at the last minute, if you truly repent like that thief!!

But the only problem is, you may not see death APPROACHING.

Thurman Munson didn't.

I know plenty of OTHERS who didn't.

So TODAY if you hear His voice, don't harden your heart...go to HIM and get your sins forgiven, through Jesus Christ, while there's time.

GOD HAS TOLD US "IT IS APPOINTED TO MAN ONCE TO DIE, AND AFTER THIS COMES THE JUDGMENT." He is not obligated to give you any OTHER warnings, or "heads ups" than THAT.

You may be nearer to the end of your "career" than you think!!