Someday, sooner or later, everybody dies. After that, we stand before a holy God and give an account for our lives. Here are 10 interesting people—in random order—who died and faced judgment in 2008. I hope they were ready.
1. Rocky Hiroaki Aoki – 70
– Cause of death: cancer
– Claim to fame: Founder of Benihana
– Comment: One of my favorite restaurants in the world
2. Michael Crichton – 66
– Cause of death: cancer
– Claim to fame: Successful author of 15 novels including The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park.
– Comment: Not quite as successful at home. 4 weddings. 4 divorces.
3. Bobby Fischer – 65
– Cause of death: kidney failure
– Claim to fame: American chess player—celebrated the 911 terrorist attacks
– Comment: smart guy—sad life
4. Larry Harmon – 85
– Cause of death: heart failure
– Claim to fame: Bozo the Clown
– Comment: what a job!
5. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn – 90
– Cause of death: heart failure
– Claim to fame: Russian activist, author, and prisoner
– Comment: no comment
6. Edmund Percival Hillary – 88
– Cause of death: just got old
– Claim to fame: First white man to summit Mt. Everest
– Comment: Kiwi
7. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – 91
– Cause of death: real old
– Claim to fame: cult leader
– Comment: Hummmmmmmm
8. Raden Suharto – 86
– Cause of death: secret
– Claim to fame: president of Indonesia for 31 years—accused of embezzling 550 million dollars while his people languished in poverty.
– Comment: can’t take it with you
9. George Carlin – 71
– Cause of death: heart failure
– Claim to fame: cussin’ comedian—jokingly claimed to be “a devout ‘Frisbeetarian,’ believing that at death our souls are thrown onto the roof, and can never be retrieved.”
– Comment: probably regretting that “frisbeetarian” comment
10. Charlton Heston – 85
– Cause of death: natural causes (old)
– Claim to fame: Moses in The Ten Commandments
– Comment: would love to see him meeting real Moses
Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)