Prince Without any warning, on April 21st Prince Rogers Nelson was found dead in an elevator in his studio/home. He was only 57 years old.

   Prince was a musical genius. He started life as the son of a jazz pianist who was also named Prince. He began composing music at age seven, and early in life he learned to play over 12 different musical instruments.

   Prince was amazingly productive. In 37 years he published 39 albums. He even wrote songs anonymously for other recording artists. In addition, he produced and starred in four major films (three of which he also directed), and he spent much of his time touring all over the world.

   In the eyes of many, Prince was a musical icon, and that made him into a multimillionaire. It appeared that he had it all and that many more years of performing were ahead of him. That made his death even more tragic.

   Not only were his many fans shocked when they heard the news of his death, but Prince himself, evidently, didn’t see it coming either. The news has reported that he made no provisions for a will.

   Many all over the world are mourning Prince because they admired him. Listening to his music and following his career, made these mourners feel like they knew him. It’s like they have lost a close friend.

   This sadness reminds us that no one can avoid death. Over 2,000 years ago Jesus told a story about a rich man that could have been said directly to Prince the day before he died. In that story Jesus talked about a rich man who felt good because he had “… many goods laid up for many years to come…” (Luke 12:19).

   Death, however, is not the end of existence for anyone. That is why God said to this rich man,“‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20–21).

   The death of Prince sheds a special irony on Psalm 82:7: “… you will die like men and fall like any one of the princes.” This is a time for us to reflect. If the rich and famous cannot escape the clutches of death, where does that leave the rest of us? Prince died, but (and you already know this) every one of us will die, too.

   Death, though, is not our only problem. After death comes judgment. “… It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Because this is true, we shouldn’t avoid thinking about God. He is even more important than our health, our wealth, and our relationships. He is calling us to stop building our lives around ourselves and our own interests, and to turn and follow Him. Having our sins paid for and forgiven it the only thing that will still matter 100 years from now.

   Here is an important question: “For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God requires his life?” (Job 27:8).

   Since we are all born godless, we all need to be rescued. Thankfully, Jesus has already made a way for us to have a relationship with God. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:1, 10–11).

   Prince in gone, and that is sad. One day you and I will be gone, too. Let’s be sure that we are trusting Jesus to deliver us from our sin. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’ ” (John 8:12).