DEATH OF STEVE JOBS

DEATH

in memory of Steve Jobs


The big question that we humans have is: "Why?" I struggled with that one for a long time until I finally realized there are no answers to this question. This is what happens to us as individuals, despite our intense struggle against death, we could easily disappear from this World, leaving few traces behind and the human race would not even notice. One of good representative example of a particular type of a person who according to the new generation mindset is a man with passion and energy and the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives, but disease ultimately claimed him, at the age of 56.

At the age of 56 years old, Steve Jobs has passed away. And with his passing, we've come to the end of not just an era but the life of one of the computer industry's brightest person who has achieved reputation in a specific field —and, some might say, he is a foremost one of a kind. And the world has lost an amazing human being.

Steve Jobs was 21 and a college dropout back in 1976 when he and childhood pal Steve Wozniak, 26, launched Apple, becoming a multimillionaire by age 25. In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. But he'd battled pancreatic cancer for years, appearing to win that battle in 2004, but eventually undergoing a liver transplant in April 2009 and taking periodic leaves of absence from Apple for medical reasons from then on.

He was behind the most successful company (Apple) on earth even never graduated from college, in fact, he didn't even get close. But with astonishing regularity, Jobs did something that few people accomplish even once: he shaped in a new and different way the entire industries. He did it with ones that were new, like PCs, and he did it with ones that were old, such as music. The businesses that Apple entered under his leadership — from personal computers to MP3 players to smart phones are all gaining a computer market share to a global powerhouse and multimedia empire that, as of last April, managed to surpass Exxon Mobil as the most valuable company in the world. Needless to say, he will be missed by many, and mourned throughout the world, especially users of the modern day iPhone and iPad.

Death comes in many forms, whether it is expected after a diagnosis of terminal illness or an unexpected accident or medical condition. Whatever the cause or causes, the human skull is a universal symbol for death. That is why, when we go through century old pictures of our ancestor, we cannot even remember who they are. Death erases information, returning all beings to the initial dust of space and time from where they departed. Because by definition, death is the cessation of all vital functions of the body which includes the heartbeat, brain activity, brain stem and lastly breathing.  The brain stem being that part of the brain that controls breathing and other basic body functions.

Before the flood, men lived to a great age; some nine hundred years and above. The known oldest man is named Methuselah, man of the arrow, the son of Enoch, and grandfather of Noah (Genesis 5:27). And all the days of his life were nine hundred sixty and nine years. After the flood, men lived not so long. It was speak about a hundred and twenty years. This is grounded from the basic knowledge on the passage in Genesis 6:3. From the time of Moses down to our present generation, it was brought to threescore years and ten, or eighty at most, as made known in Psalms 90:10 the length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 

And we fly away.  Consider the shortness of our days, and the certainty and quickness of death. We know a lot of persons, friends and love one’s that their passing away at a start is hard to accept but in the process of time it often goes unnoticed. Thus, God teaches us to number our days, as if today is the last day of our life and to value each and every moment of our lives. Moments in life that seems so insignificant while we are still physically and mentally fit. But become so memorable and valuable once we are experiencing incapability and lacking of strength and power to do a simple activities in life.

Many years ago, man was declared dead if no pulse and heart beat was sensed by the stethoscope in the body. But today’s legal time of death is pronounced when the brain and the brain stem have permanently lost all neurological function. Because it would be possible that even with no heart beat, a dying person’s brain activity can continue up to six minutes or more. Regardless what our modern and latest technology has to say about death, the human skull is a universal symbol for death.

People are excited listening stories on sex but they are not interested to listen about man’s destination which is death. Death is the last thing we talk about. Keep in mind for consideration, from the smallest to the greatest, from the richest to the poorest, everyone eventually dies. Ultimately, everyone dies. It is not a matter of if, but when. We could not explain the mystery of death but we could explain that after death our body will decompose. Therefore, Death = Birth + Life, a formula worth remembering.

Death destroys beauty. Even if you are the most handsome/beautiful creation, if death comes; we are all the same - skeleton. Likewise we could not beautify death. Even if we hire the best cosmetologist, the best dermatologist, the best funeral director, we could not beautify death. It is the real reason why we put flowers on expensive coffin and apply make-up to make the dead body presentable.

What shall we do then since death is bound to happen? Thousands of years ago, the patriarch Job asked, "If a man dies, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14). This question remains today. However, there is hope after death! In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15:52-53). This is the “change” of which Job spoke— when he said, “all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come,” a change from this temporary, physical existence to eternal life. Meaning, our earthly corruptible body will be changed into an incorruptible body or body that is headed towards physical death will be changed to a body that has no impending danger of experiencing death. This is God’s promised to all if we heartily accepted Him as our personal Savior. God Bless.