Do not invite death by the error of your life,
or bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
For he created all things so that they might exist;
the generative forces of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them,
and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
-Wisdom 1:12-14 (NRSV)

I attend an evangelical church that recently lost one of its “members” (in quotes because there is no formal ‘membership role’ as in most churches) to a drug overdose. He was 43 years old and struggled with a heroin addiction for some time. Sadly, he wasted his life and witness for Christ– because he died after making the decision to use again. I cannot and will not spin it any other way.

There are those who say that God may have taken him before things got any worse for him or those around him, and that may be true. Someday, perhaps we will know the truth of it. Of course, it does not negate the fact that I am fairly confident that the abrupt end to his life by a drug overdose is not what God wanted. I do not wish to start speaking for God or pretending to know His will for everyone else’s life– when I am not even sure of what it is for me. I discover that for myself on a daily basis. But, from what I know of the Bible and through my walk with Christ, it doesn’t fit that he would be happy with this.

I am sad, deeply sad, that he seems to have “invited death by the error of his life.” I also know that God has the ability to redeem this situation and turn it to His good in some way that I may not find obvious. Perhaps our friend’s final witness will impact somebody who is heading down the wrong path and may take notice of the life and tragic death of our friend. Maybe his death will save someone else.

My friend’s name is Chris and now he resides with others in a realm awaiting that glorious day of resurrection. I look forward to our meeting again and pray that the remembrance of him and his life will contribute to this world in a positive way and bring glory to our Father in heaven. I must always remember that it is better to be dead with Christ than alive without Him.