Daily Devotional for Monday May 10, 2004

The Real Tragedy of Pat Tillman

(Romans 10:9)

One of the sad stories in the last few weeks was the news of the death of former NFL star Pat Tillman, who died while serving our nation in Afghanistan. Pat Tillman was different from most of today?s professional athletes. He was a star defensive back for Arizona State University and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. After several seasons with Arizona, he had an opportunity to change teams and earn over 9 million dollars, but chose instead to stay with Arizona for 1/3 of that since he felt he owed it to the team for giving him his opportunity to play professional football.

As amazing as that is in today?s world of professional athletes, Pat did something even more amazing. He was so moved by the events of 9/11 he made the decision to give up his professional football career, his 3.6 million dollar salary, to serve our nation by joining the Army Rangers. When he made the decision, he also refused to do any media interviews. He said that what he was doing was not for attention or glory, but out of a personal conviction to do his part in the war on terrorism. Again, Pat Tillman stood out because such nobility is rarely found in professional athletes today.

That is why it was so sad to learn on April 23rd that Tillman had been shot and killed the day before during a Special Operations mission in southeastern Afghanistan along the border of Pakistan. This was a young man who was not only a sports hero, but like all of those men and women who bravely defend our nation, a real hero. Because he had given up the fame and fortune of a successful professional football career, his death shocked the nation and was a national story. But today, I want to tell you the REAL tragedy of the death of Pat Tillman.

On Monday May 3rd, they had a Memorial Service for Pat Tillman in his home town of San Jose, California. I got home from doing my daily radio program at around 6 p.m. and my normal routine is to eat dinner with my wife and then sleep from 7 until 11 when I have to get up and go do my nightly television program from 1-2 a.m. The television in my bedroom was on one of the 24-hour-cable news stations as I was starting to fall asleep, when I heard the broadcast of Pat Tillman?s memorial service. I heard one speaker after another talking about Pat?s athletic career, his service to our nation, about being a role model and hero, but with each speaker I realized what was missing was anyone mentioning his faith. Other than the passing reference to God, there was NOTHING being said about Pat Tillman?s faith.

Then his brother got up to speak. Tillman?s brother Richard?another brother, Kevin?who also joined the Rangers with Pat?was overcome with emotion as he stood before the gathering in a white T-shirt and jeans. ?It was amazing to be his baby brother,? he said, voice shaking. ?He was a champion. But with all respect to those who have been up here before me, Pat?s not with God. He was not religious,so he?s not with God, he?s just f-ing dead.?

I sat up, wide awake now, and all I could think about was that as great a life as Pat Tillman had lived, great college athlete, successful professional football career, giving up the fame and fortune to serve and pay the ultimate price for our nation, he would spend eternity separated from God in a place that was created for satan. That is the real tragedy of the death of Pat Tillman, and anyone else who dies without accepting Jesus Christ by faith as their Lord and Savior.

Let me interject something that is very important, please do not miss this. From all of the news accounts as well as personal conversations I have had with people close to the Tillmans, this was a VERY close knit family. From all of my personal research, there is nothing to indicate that his brother?s comments were not accurate. However, there is always the possibility that in those last days of Pat Tillman?s life, a chaplain, someone he served with who knew the Lord, may have spoken to Pat and he may have softened his heart and actually accepted the Lord by faith as his Savior. Let?s pray that happened.

I love you and care about you so much. If Pat Tillman did die in his sins without accepting Christ, he is eternally lost. There is no more sad end to a life than to be separated from God your Creator for eternity. I pray today that you realize no matter how great your life may be, how successful you may be, how much money you may have, how wonderful and noble a person you may be, the second your life ends, all of that means NOTHING.

Bill Gates may be the richest man on the planet, but the second his heart stops beating, all of his billions mean NOTHING! We will all die one day my friend, and the moment our heart stops beating the only thing that will matter is if you know Jesus Christ by faith as your Lord and Savior. NOTHING ELSE WILL MATTER.

I pray today that the Pat Tillman story will motivate you to realize that unless you have a personal relationship by faith with Jesus Christ, you have no hope beyond the few years of life we each have. If you are reading this today and do not have 100% assurance that when your life is over you will be forever with the Lord, don?t wait another moment. I invite you to go to www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html. Pray to ask God to open your heart, read the words, pray the prayer, and accept today God?s gift to you of everlasting life through His son Jesus Christ. The real tragedy of Pat Tillman was not that he died, but that he probably died without Christ in his heart and is eternally lost.