Many of us “older heads” will recall the brief movie comedies of those young children known as “The Little Rascals.” They were also known as “Our Gang.” These “shorts,” as Hollywood called them back then, were aired in both the movie theatres and on television. They are available on video and DVD. The shows were filmed from the 1920’s through the early 1940’s, much of which constituted the Depression Years. They started out as silent films, (as sound was not yet brought about), periodically showing a very small portion of the dialogue in print on the screen. Later on, when sound come onto the scene, the public was able to enjoy the funny and zany words issuing from the mouths of those children. It was truly a more simpler and innocent time, although living was hard, especially when it came to surviving and supporting a family. No doubt, many a young person of today has also caught some or a lot of these shows.
Many a hearty and long, loud laugh was experienced from the characters: Darla, Mary Ann, Janice, Alfalfa, Spanky, Farina, Chubby, Buckwheat, Stymie, Porky, Mickey, Wheezer, and Jackie (Cooper), just to name a very few. These comedic shorts were clean, decent, and wholesome. I too enjoyed this series of movies, as did my parents. These films are visible proof that those in the acting world do not have to be foul and off-colored in order to be funny. Of course, nearly all of these “Rascals” are now deceased.
Upon watching a video containing the biography (a.k.a. “bio”) on many of the children, one quote I will give proceeded from the mouth of one of the actors, that being George “Spanky” McFarland. Then being an older adult, he said when interviewed about those comedy shorts, “As a kid, I had everything I wanted. We had a good life, but when it was over, it was over.” Spanky too is now deceased.
When hearing these words, I could not help but think that this man’s statement is all true of what makes up every part of the physical and materialistic world. All people and things come to a complete and everlasting halt. Even if every single one of “The Little Rascals” were still alive today, not any of them could step back in time and redo so much as one small moment of those films, though perhaps a great many of them would have liked to do so. These individuals would all look so different, for they would not only be adults, they would also be very aged. Hence, all of these one time “children” would be too old to act out the characters they portrayed many years back, considering a lot of the physical activity shown in those episodes. What is more, the adults who starred in these films with the “Our Gang” children (remember Miss Crabtree, one of the lovely school teachers played by June Marlow? Oh yes! I admired her too!) would be deceased. Truly, as Spanky declared of his years of child acting with his fellow “Rascals,” “When it was over, it was over.”
In Ecclesiastes 1:4, King Solomon declared, “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.” The first part of chapter 3:2 teaches us that there is “A time to be born, and a time to die;…” That little “dash” we see between the year of someone’s birth and the year of someone’s death represents the span of how how short life is while residing on earth. Whether of natural or unnatural causes, all people and things grow old and wear out. All people and things become history. Therefore, all people and things become only memories. This cycle is constant with everything, not just humanity. It is birth, lifespan, death; birth, lifespan, death; etc. Too, the length of life varies for each of us. Some live on the earth a long while, some a moderate while, and some either barely get stared, or else never really get started. This remark of “you have your whole life ahead of you” has not applied, and does not apply today, to all people. When the time arrives on this planet for each individual person, animal, foul, sea creature, and all vegetation to cease living, this will be forever. The phrase, “and that’s final” would likewise apply here. When it is over, it is over!
Whatever we plan on doing while still alive, we need to do it ASAP, if at all possible. If what we wish to do will take awhile, all the more reason for getting started now! Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, no device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” You and I will not always have the same strength we presently have. In the next life, all opportunities to do good, accomplish what we wish, make our lives right with God, and correct any sins, will be gone eternally,. Both life and death are a one way trip. All plans and amends will be too late to do, period! Countless, precious souls have found that out the hard way, and many continue to do so. When it is over, it is over!
Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” We live but only once. We physically die but only once. Not one single, minute hint is mentioned in God’s holy Word concerning the doctrine of “reincarnation.” We experience but one lifetime. One breath. One body. When it is over, it is over!
Sadly, then, such is also this way with everything and everyone whom we all wish we could cling to, and thus, never let go. All is over that once was. Many people are gone who once were. Untold numbers and friends have departed this physical life, never to live on earth again. At times, we use the term of their having “gone on to their final reward.” “The Little Rascals,” “Our Gang,” can never be revived. These adventures can only be seen on film. Much of the scenery used in those comedy shorts stand no more. Either new buildings have been erected in those places, or else the scenery and buildings have been torn down, thus, only empty lots’ now being there. This is the constant cycle of life, since sin came into the world back at the Creation in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).
Now let us apply the first section of the above paragraph to you and I, along with the present day world. All will be over one day that now is. All of us who are now will one day no longer be. We will continue to see, as we have seen, many buildings and places that will cease before our eyes. We have lost family and friends, and there are family members and friends who will lose us. These things happen every second that time stands. It is one consistent rollover and revolving door after another. There will be no turning back. Death is “once and for all.” When it is over, it is over!
Unless God sees fit to end time before you and I pass from this life, we too will pass from this life! Because of the killjoy nature of sin, we will all become part of that cycle of life, as was the case with every living thing and event of bygone days. All that was present becomes a memory, as will all persons who ever lived. Scenery. Objects. Events. Celebrations. Shows. Concerts. Recreation. Employment. Marriage. Everything in life and everyone’s life must be surrendered for good by either reason of age, or some abnormal means.
Are we truly prepared to meet our Creator? After our death, what then for you and I? I believe the words of the Apostle Peter will suffice in the ending of this article: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night: in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that we may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless” (II Peter 3:10-14).
When it is over, it is over!
