The Crocodile Hunter Will Live Again

Posted November 3, 2006

A commentary by Sean Yarbrough

News of Steve Irwin's death spread quickly last month. Known on television as the "Crocodile Hunter," Irwin's brushes with death and serious injury often amazed his audience. At times, even he was surprised at his luck with the crocodiles, cobras and sharks he handled on national television (click on the link for video clips of near misses involving these and other animals). It was therefore all the more shocking when Irwin died from a stingray barb to the heart while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

This isn't the first incident involving a chest injury by a stingray. In 1988, a 12-year-old boy from Australia died of a similar wound. And in October, a stingray jumped into a Florida man's boat and pierced his heart, causing life-threatening injuries.

In many ways, these bizarre incidents illustrate the urgent need for God's Kingdom to be established on earth. In the book of Revelation, God promises that there will ultimately be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). He even foretells a time when the nature of the animals will become peaceful (Isaiah 65:25). These prophecies are repeated numerous times throughout the Scriptures and give us hope for a better world to come.

Even more significant is God's promise of a resurrection—not just for true believers, but also for those who may not have known about God's way of life. The Bible teaches that once Christ returns to the earth, He will set up His Kingdom and reign for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). At that time, those who have died in the faith will be resurrected to reign with Christ as kings and priests. After this golden age of peace and happiness, God will resurrect the untold billions of people who have died without full knowledge of His truth. Once they have received an opportunity to repent of their sins and obey God, they will finally be judged and rewarded according to His wisdom (Revelation 20:5-13).

Steve Irwin will be missed by many. However, we can take comfort in knowing that we haven't seen the last of the Crocodile Hunter. One day, he and so many others will have an opportunity to enjoy a life without fear of pain, death...or crocodiles! VT