Yesterday for the very first time, I heard the name āChester Benningtonā when my dear friend Seun Akappo rang me up. I got to learn that Chester died by committing suicide. Very tragic. Although I did not know his name, I was once addicted to the music Linkin Park produced. All it takes is a trip down memory lane to remember how I had songs like āSomewhere I belongā, āItās Easier To Runā, āBreaking The Habitā, āIn The Endā, āCrawlingā, āFrom The Insideā and āWhat Iāve Doneā on repeat. Reflecting on the death of Chester, I canāt help but hear the words he once sang: āI tried so hard And got so far But in the end It doesn't even matter I had to fall To lose it all But in the end It doesn't even matterā. Heart wrenching. Regardless of what he meant when he sang those words, I canāt help but see them within the context of his death now. I think the saddest thing about Chesterās death is the question: where will he spend eternity? Chester was a beautifully gifted musical creature. He enjoyed a great deal of success and popularity and got to live āhis dreamā. But the important question now is where he will live his reality. The sad death of Chester gives us all, Christians and non-Christians alike, another sad but necessary pause to reflect on what really matters āin the endā. I can only imagine how many times Chester braved the storm and overcame the urge to end his life. All the things which had previously helped him overcome, failed in this particular instance. In Jesus there is an assurance of a certain kind of peace; the peace of God which transcends all understanding. It can only be found in Jesus Christ and its purpose is to guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). I would go as far as saying that what Chester needed above anything else to avoid this tragedy, was the peace of God at that very moment. Godās peace would have transcended his despair and decision to end his life. Stop at nothing to be used by God, to reach the Christians and non-Christians you know. It could be through your prayers, persistent preaching of the gospel or living an exemplary life. They need to know what a friend we have in Jesus. How I wish that all humanity would yearn for Jesus. That we would all embrace the words of this song: āAnd when I am alone Oh, and when I am alone And when I am alone, Give me Jesus. And when I come to die, Oh, and when I come to die And when I come to die Give me Jesus. You can have all this world But give me Jesusā. ------------- Post written by: Sonsare Zabadi Image source: rollingstone.com Original writer of 'Give Me Jesus' unknown, but was African-American who was most likely a slave. Hereās a nice article about the song: https://hymnsinmyheart.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/give-me-jesus/
















