Twenty-Seven

27 years old. No, it’s not my birthday. I’ve been 27 since January. Actually, today, August 8th, 2011, I’m exactly 27 years 6 months and 8 days old, or 27 years and 189 days old. But these days I’ve been thinking about some news shared around the world: the death of the singer Amy Winehouse, whod died at 27 years and 312 days of age. Actually, she became a member of a group called “The 27 Club“, consisted of famous people who died at the age of 27 years. Here are some of them:

Jimi Hendrix, with 27 years and 295 days. Considered to be one of the greatest guitar players in history, he suffered with the addiction of prescription pills, among other things. Death by asphyxiation, after ingesting some pills and a considerable amount of alcoholic beverages.

Janis Joplin, with 27 years and 258 days. Great artists, singer, songwriter, painter and dancer. Had a unique voice, was called “The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “the greatest Blues singer of her generation”. Death by heroin overdose, which she used, as well as amphetamine.

Kurt Cobain, with 27 years and 44 days. Leader, guitarist and songwriter for the band Nirvana, which was an enormous success late in the 80s and early in the 90s, with hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, one of the most played songs today. Death by suicide, with a shotgun wound to the head.

Amy Winehouse, with 27 years and 312 dias. Multiple award winning singer and composer. Cause of death still undetermined, but probably related to alcohol and drug use.

The “27 Club” has many other members: Jim Morrison (leader of the band The Doors), Brian Jones (one of the founders of the band Rolling Stones), Alexander Levy, Linda Jones, among others.

Looking at their lives, I’m thinking: They ended their lives when I’m still beginning mine. They ended a career, and I’m about to begin a new part of my ministry. They wasted their lives with drugs, alcohol and many other things, when I can give my life to be used by the Lord.

Mark 8:26 says: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Many men of God did so much after 27 years of age:

• David became king of Israel at 30.
• The apostle Paul converted himself with approximately 30 years of age.
• Martin Luther published his 95 theses at 34.
• John Wesley had, at 35, an experience described by him when his “heart got warm”, when he dedicated his life entirely to evangelism.
• David Wilkerson moved to New York at 27, starting his ministry with drug addicts. His history is better known through the book “The Cross and The Switchblade”. He is also the founder of Teen Challenge.
• Brother Andrew, founder of Open Doors, made his first missions trip to Poland at 27 years of age.
• Jesus Christ himself, started His ministry at 30, performing his first miracle in the wedding at Cana of Galilee (John 2:11).

Thursday, at 27 years and 192 days of age, I’ll travel to the United States to begin a new part of my ministry (I’ll explain better later). And I know I’m just starting.

The 27 Club? No, thank you. I prefer the Revelation 7:9-10 group:

^“9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

What about you? Are you wasting your life, or using it to gain the whole world?