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Two Celebrity Deaths, One Lesson About What Lasts

Two Celebrity Deaths, One Lesson About What Lasts

Last updated on: August 23, 2026 at 4:03 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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Two Celebrity Deaths, One Lesson About What Lasts 2026-08-23T16:03:04-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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How Does ‘Eythan Connect Hayden Panettiere & Frank Beard?

This week, the big news has been about the tragic death of Hollywood starlet Hayden Panettiere, who passed away at the young age of 36. She was open about the postpartum depression she endured after having her daughter in 2014. Sadly, she left behind her only daughter, who lives with her daughter’s father.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

The actress grew up in front of the cameras after beginning her acting career on soap operas at age 4. Fame and the pressures of Hollywood can easily entice anyone, especially the younger crowd.

The actress was open about the struggles she faced in adulthood after growing up quickly in the limelight:

Alcohol
Prescription pills
Abusive relationships
Postpartum depression

The truth is, all of us have been led astray by the temporary pleasures and hardships of this fallen kingdom (Isaiah 53:6, Jeremiah 50:6, 1 Peter 2:25). I have personally experienced how easy it is to wander from God and faith for the temporary pleasures of this world and can relate to the delusions of earthly greatness and pleasure.

The truth is, for a while idols can seem good and make us happy. But, like Adam and Eve, we must deal with the consequences of our foolish choices (Genesis 3:6-19, James 1: 14-15). Despite what Pres. Trump and his followers believe, sin isn’t a political or cultural problem; it is a human problem (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23).

Even God’s people must face the consequences of their choices. Sometimes hardship and suffering lead us to refocus on God’s eternal and permanent things (Psalm 119:67, Romans 5:3-5). As God’s people, we must focus on eternal and permanent things.

What Is Permanent

Permanent things are more than just the opposite of temporary things; they have more value and importance to us and even to God in the long run. Permanent things last long after this temporary world and its pleasures fade away.

Image by Pixabay

That is why we should put our hope and faith into what lasts, instead of what will one day cease to exist. Permanent is defined as “Continuing or enduring without fundamental or marked change; stable.”

Temporary things can be good or bad (i.e., happiness, suffering, love). I don’t know anyone who believes temporary happiness or pleasure is bad while they are experiencing them, because that is what tempts us away from permanent and everlasting goodness; it is the game plan of Satan himself.

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about the difference between permanent and temporary things in life (Psalm 90:1-12, Matthew 6:19-21, Hebrews 12:26-28, James 4:13-14). Temporary things easily distracted us from the permanent and internal things of God (Ecclesiastes 5:10-15, Mark 4:18-19, Colossians 3:1-4).

Earlier this summer, I looked at the everlasting name of God and why it is important for God’s people to focus on what lasts and means most to God ( Isaiah 40:28, 1 Timothy 6:16). God has planted eternity in man’s heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11, Jeremiah 29:11).

God has bigger plans for His people than anything this temporary world can give us (Romans 8:18-25, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Ephesians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:3-5, Revelation 21:1-5). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about what is permanent and lasts for eternity.

‘Eythan

The Torah tells us how God created everything in the beginning, and it was good (Genesis 1:1-2:9). Things were so good that God actually walked with a man in the garden (Genesis 3:8-9). After the fall, everything about this fallen kingdom became temporary (Genesis 3:17-19).

God set Israel apart from this fallen kingdom and promised a permanent home if they abide in Him and focus on what lasts and matters the most(Leviticus 20:24-26, Exodus 19:4-6, Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for permanent is ‘eythan, and it can also mean, “Enduring, perpetual, ever flowing, or strong,” depending upon the context it is used in. All Israel had to do was focus on what God says lasts:

Love God completely
Love thy neighbor
Be a light to the nations

Jesus went out of his way to make it clear that this temporary kingdom is not his claim to the permanent kingdom (Matthew 4:8-10, Luke 17:20-21, John 18:36-37). Our Rabbi reminded His followers what matters most: greatness is in His Kingdom (Matthew 22:36-40, Luke 10:25-28).

Image by Wikipedia Commons

Jesus didn’t mince words about the rich and powerful of this power-hungry world (Matthew 23:13-36, Mark 10:21-25, Luke 6:24-26). Our Lord reminded His followers to focus on the permanent things of God, instead of the temporary pleasures of this fallen kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33, John 6:27).

Frank Beard

In other big news this week, legendary drummer for the band ZZ Top, Frank Beard, died at the age of 77. During his younger years, he was notorious for drinking and drugs. Like many of us, he was easily swayed by the temporary pleasures of this fallen kingdom (Ezekiel 34:5-6, Matthew 9:36).

Image by Wikipedia Commons

But his story didn’t end there. After getting sober in the late 70s, he became a spiritual seeker and sought what matters most:

Love
God
Health
Others

When he died, Beard had a net worth of about $50 million. Money wasn’t his problem, because he learned to do good with it. As my mentor reminds me, “Money isn’t the problem; it is the love of it (1 Timothy 6:10, Hebrews 13:5)!”

Many conservatives need to return to the basics of the faith: loving God and others (Matthew 22:37-39). Their preoccupation with earthly greatness and a temporary kingdom has blinded them to the things of God.

We cannot serve God and pursue the things of this temporary kingdom (Matthew 6:24, James 4:4). Satan has always tempted man and even Jesus with temporary things that distract us from what really matters (Genesis 3:5, Matthew 4:1-11). Because where we spend eternity will be ‘eythan!

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