Richard Hollerman

Over the years, there have been “Westerners” with their guns blazing and horses galloping. The setting has been the hills and gullies of California, but the viewers were lead to think that this could be in any western state—whether Oregon or Colorado, whether Arizona or Texas, whether Idaho or Wyoming, or whether New Mexico or Montana.

But, wherever this would happen to be geographically, we know that spiritually, this could happen anywhere. But where are these hapless and admired personalities now? What ever happened to them? Do we just assume that like the song says, they are like the “tumbling tumble-weeds,” and just pass away?

Yesterday, I examined the Internet to discover. These are personalities who were active, from about 1920 to 1950 or later. I was amazed at the fact that nearly all of them died but the question is, “How did they die?”

From this fact-finding search, I discovered that some died of “old age”—which doesn’t say much about how they died and the reasons for their death. Some died from a heart attack or heart disease. There were some who died from “natural” causes, from degenerative diseases, and the like. These were men (and a few women) who rode and fought and apprehended the “enemy” and took them to jail.

As we examined their pictures and noted their ages, it is amazing that these men, aged perhaps 50 to 85, were gone and never would be seen again in life. They were able to accomplish great mental and physical feats, but they are now gone. These men who died from lung disease, from cancer, from other illnesses, from car accidents, were all gone at the present time. And there is no indication that they or any of them repented during life and before death. They had lived their “days of glory” and achieved fame, and made their riches. They were the ones whom people looked to for encouragement and inspiration. But, as I said, they are all gone, apparently without God and without salvation.

We must all die (Hebrews 9:27) and this may happen at any time (James 4:14-15). We know that some may have some sort of “warning” of their impending death. But they had no indication that this would happen and sadly these people did not prepare ahead of time.

You may have a few months, or year, or even decades before you. But are you willing to come to Christ now and find sweet refuge in Him? Now is the time to prepare for we never know when God will call. Come to Jesus now!