Another seemingly star-crossed celebrity has died. I can't turn on the news without some story, complete with pictures of this "great one" who died by drinking (accidentally or on purpose) a fatal cocktail of drugs.
Of course it's tragic whenever some person who did not know the Lord Jesus dies, whether celebrity or not. Each one of these souls will have to stand before God in judgment.
But I hear some of my friends refer to these talented celebrities as "great."
Great?
What made them great?
The fact that they had talent?
The fact that they made records, CD, movies?
That they made millions?
That photographers and journalists followed them and plastered their name and image in every tabloid and celebrity news show on tv?
I guess I have a different definition of what it means to be great.
I know some truly great people.
And none of them are famous.
Perhaps because they've been too busy looking out for and serving others.
(For celebrity-hood, it takes a lot of time and energy to build up a public persona that others will worship.)
But the great people I know spend the bulk of their days working hard to provide for their families and to give selflessly of their time and resources to help others.
When one of these great people die, not too many people, besides family and friends and those whose lives they've touched, will mourn their passing.
Too bad we can't get a front row seat on the other side of heaven to see the kind of reception each of these selfless and great people will get from Jesus.
"Hooray! " Jesus exclaims as he approaches and wraps His arms around the newly arrived saint. "I'm so glad you're finally here. Here, let me put this fine, white robe over you. I'm so proud of you. You've accomplished all that I called you to do." Friends of the saint surround him/her and kiss and embrace as they sing songs of joy. Then they escort the saint through the City. Indescribable joy and light surrounds the throng of worshipers.
And now, this saint looks forward to an eternity of being in the Presence of the God who loved him/her with unending love, who was present when this saint drew his first breath, who watched as he took his first tentative steps as a new child of God, who was there to welcome him home at the end of his sojourn on earth.
To be known and cherished by God. To know that his/her life counted for God's purposes into eternity!
That is true fame.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world --the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does --comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (1st John 2:15-17 NIV BIBLE)
Of course it's tragic whenever some person who did not know the Lord Jesus dies, whether celebrity or not. Each one of these souls will have to stand before God in judgment.
But I hear some of my friends refer to these talented celebrities as "great."
Great?
What made them great?
The fact that they had talent?
The fact that they made records, CD, movies?
That they made millions?
That photographers and journalists followed them and plastered their name and image in every tabloid and celebrity news show on tv?
I guess I have a different definition of what it means to be great.
I know some truly great people.
And none of them are famous.
Perhaps because they've been too busy looking out for and serving others.
(For celebrity-hood, it takes a lot of time and energy to build up a public persona that others will worship.)
But the great people I know spend the bulk of their days working hard to provide for their families and to give selflessly of their time and resources to help others.
When one of these great people die, not too many people, besides family and friends and those whose lives they've touched, will mourn their passing.
Too bad we can't get a front row seat on the other side of heaven to see the kind of reception each of these selfless and great people will get from Jesus.
"Hooray! " Jesus exclaims as he approaches and wraps His arms around the newly arrived saint. "I'm so glad you're finally here. Here, let me put this fine, white robe over you. I'm so proud of you. You've accomplished all that I called you to do." Friends of the saint surround him/her and kiss and embrace as they sing songs of joy. Then they escort the saint through the City. Indescribable joy and light surrounds the throng of worshipers.
And now, this saint looks forward to an eternity of being in the Presence of the God who loved him/her with unending love, who was present when this saint drew his first breath, who watched as he took his first tentative steps as a new child of God, who was there to welcome him home at the end of his sojourn on earth.
To be known and cherished by God. To know that his/her life counted for God's purposes into eternity!
That is true fame.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world --the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does --comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (1st John 2:15-17 NIV BIBLE)
Hi Dena -
ReplyDeleteThank you for a fine post. I know many of these truly "great" people.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Susan, I have been blessed to serve all over the country in some really fine churches and with some incredible saints. What joy it'll be to be reunited with these people on the other side of eternity!
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