A Tribute to Lexi Etheridge, 11/9/1994 – 1/20/2018

Early Saturday, January 20, my cousin, Lexi Etheridge, was struck by a car traveling at a speed of 85-90 miles per hour! She did not survive the crash.

There are many questions that run through our minds in times like these. Why did God take Lexi? Is Lexi in a better place (Heaven)? Do all go to heaven when they die? Am I good enough to go to heaven? Should we pray for Lexi? What good can possibly come from Lexi’s death?
Today, we look to the Bible for answers to these questions.

Opening Passage – Psalm 23.

Should we pray for Lexi?

Hebrews 9:27-28 —“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”  (NKJV)

Is Lexi in a better place (heaven)?

Do all go to heaven?

Luke 16:23 – “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”  (NKJV)

Matthew 5:20-22 – “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. ”  (NKJV)

Is it possible to be good enough to enter heaven?

Romans 3:9-26 –

Do Christians who die go to heaven?

2 Corinthians 5:6-11 – “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” (NKJV) (Reference 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

Is Lexi in heaven today?

Why did God take Lexi?

Matthew 6:10 – “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

1 Kings 14:10-13 – “‘therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. 11 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!’ 12 Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.” (NKJV)

Unless a grain of whet falls into the ground, it remains alone…

John 12:23-24 – “But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.’” (NKJV)