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So many have written on this subject so I thought I might try my hand. I know nothing of Whitney Houston’s faith or lack of it. I don’t know about her action or interaction with the Word of God. I don’t know anything about any relationship with Christ that she might or might not have had. And I know nothing about her eternal destiny. Since I don’t know much about any of those things, I will address the things I do know–what people said as they were telling her goodbye.

Funerals and memorial services are very emotional events. Things are said that may or may not have been said during life. And even the most irreligious people can be spoken of in the most religious of ways. Why do thoughts turn to God and heaven at this point in time, even if they are rarely mentioned in the day to day events of life? Hope–we want hope–we all want it. We refuse to believe that whatever we experience in this life is all there is.

I did not watch the service for Whitney Houston although I have read a great deal about it. Even though I enjoyed some of her early music I certainly would not be considered a fan. As I have tried to put together some of the content of her “coming home” service these are the kinds of things I gather. She was raised in the Baptist church and had her roots there, singing in the gospel choir as an 11 year old. The last song she sang in public was “Jesus Loves Me.” According to at least one source some of her comments toward the end of her life were quite “biblical.” She was a very loving, giving, and gracious person for whom the pressures of fame took a terrible toll. Kevin Costner even said, alluding to her sometimes lack of confidence, “Off you go Whitney, escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. When you sing before him don’t you worry, you’ll be good enough.”

As I already referred to, I have no idea of what her spiritual condition was and even if I did, I would have no right or authority to judge her. But the service prompted some thoughts in my mind. For instance, since there is a heaven that Whitney was allegedly escorted to “by an army of angels” does that mean there is a hell that she escaped? And if she gained heaven and spurned hell that is something that most other people would want to do also–I think. Therefore, some further reflection might be helpful.

According to what I have read Whitney attended church (at least as a child), held on to that religious upbringing to some level throughout her life (even to the point of singing “Jesus Love Me” just before she died), and was a quality person (loving, giving, gracious). Which of these things, or combination of them, qualified her for heaven? Are any of them, if left out or not practiced to the degree which she did, important enough to result in a very different eternal consequence?

You see the problem is not what was said in the funeral or about Ms. Houston–it was what was not said. I heard no mention of the gospel. Here is what I mean. Just like me and other every other person reading this (and everybody else for that matter) Whitney Houston was a sinner. Just like me she needed forgiveness and she needed a Savior. If she came to Christ in repentance, surrendering her life to Him, she is in heaven today–that destination has nothing to do with growing up in church, singing in the choir, or being a great person–because not one of us can be good enough to earn heaven. It is completely based upon what Jesus Christ has done for us.

I desperately hope that Whitney Houston came into contact with the gospel and responded accordingly. I trust that in the darkest days of her life she came to Christ and found the comfort she seemed to be seeking. I would even say that it is my desire that Kevin Costner got it right. If he did–and this is the most vital part–it was all because of the gospel!