Richard Hollerman

We know that today was a sad day for some music-loving “fans” of music venues. One of the “brightest” lights of this form of music has died. The entertainment page surely must be filled with news of this man’s death.

As many of you know, we own no television or the like but we do have cell phones and I watch this as I do my exercise each morning. One of the lead articles that we saw was entitled, “Rest in Paradise.” This made me think of what Scripture says, and not what some modern-day singer might say.

This heading caught my eye since “Paradise” is found in Scripture. Those of you who know the Scriptures realize that this is a term in the Bible that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 12:4 that refers to “heaven” and is the place where the righteous will go at death. Also, let us remember that Jesus said to the repentant man crucified with him, “You shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). We also recall that it is the place where the saved will “eat of the tree of life” (Revelation 2:7). Thus, it is a place of blessedness with God and with Christ and the redeemed in heaven.

But from what we read online, this was a worldly musician, who had a guitar, and who sung worldly songs, and appealed to worldly people. Apparently, in the past he wrote many songs and wrote popular books. One of the songs was “Cheeseburgers in Paradise.” Hmm. We wonder about this. If cheeseburgers are not a health food and actually are a terrible food (nutritionally), would God allow this to be found in His “Paradise”?

Apparently, this worldly musician, who was sick multiple times during his later years, had an “empire” and he was a millionaire. He began restaurants (and keep in mind that most restaurants are not that interested in nutrition), beer (and we wonder about this), casinos (and this speaks for itself), and radio stations (we should remember that radio—at least 99% of them) are known for evil agendas.

As for the label goes, we wonder. It was called “Rest in Paradise.” The write-up says that he “died peacefully.” Really? Can anyone die “peacefully” unless he be a Christian—a true one—rather than a wicked entertainer? He was known for “pop music” and we ask can there be any “pop” music that is good? And can there be “rest” in Paradise? According to the Internet, “evil-doers will face eternal punishment.” This is not a blessed prospect.

And we also read that “the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss p refuse and mud. ‘There is no peace,” says my God, for the wicked’” (Isaiah 57:20-21). Then there is the additional verse that speaks of those in hell: “The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, for they have no rest day and night” (Revelation 14:11). Again, this doesn’t sound like a good place, a place where the righteous will dwell forever!

And so we must say that a worldly and wealthy guitarist will not find blessed “rest in Paradise” now or ever. On the contrary, let us come to Jesus while we may, before sickness, before worldly music, before riches, all overtake us. No, there will be no “rest” in Paradise for such a person but there will be “rest” for those who go to the genuine “paradise”—the “paradise of God” in heaven!