Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace." - Helen H. Lemmel

I could be wrong about this but I can't help but think that with the death of music "idol" Michael Jackson, we will be bombarded for some time with news, past interviews, biographies and television specials of this "larger than life" individual. I'm sorry he died; I enjoyed his music--up until a certain time. I don't ever recall really knowing the words to his songs, but the music, his dancing and voice were enthralling. He was gifted.

I struggle with all the attention movie stars, music stars and some athletes receive. They are role models for so many young people today. These individuals have everything money can buy. Sometimes they have more than they could ever need, just because they have the means to buy it. On one hand some can't comprehend why they need three houses on three different continents, expensive cars, private jets, fancy clothes...and drugs, alcohol and sex...and on the other hand they still lift these people up to the level of an idol. When these people are in overly extravagant, lustful, illicit, sometimes bizarre, lifestyles how can that compute to being a good role model? And it's just wrong to say it's just what society is accepting these days; times change and so should we.

One headline this morning stated, "The World Mourns...." What was it about this man that would cause the world to mourn? I'm sure he meant different things to different people. To me, he's just another man who let life go to extremes and nothing good really came out of it. Yes, he WAS gifted. But why would the world mourn someone with the lifestyle he led? Pardon me if I'm critical. He let the outcome of his lifestyle turn his life into something not so pretty. And he's not the only one.

I got to wondering...why is it the world is so interested in these people? Is it just to see how other people live? Is it to look at them as role models? What good is idolizing them? Will we ever learn from all the lives of the rich and famous? What is it that causes people to want to be like them? They have all the money...but still do not have happiness.

More wondering...why is it the world can talk about, mourn and be so enthralled in these people, but when someone shows the same enthusiasm in Jesus Christ it becomes a taboo subject?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy biographies. I like to know about people and their lives. I don't compare myself. I just like to see how other people live. I'm always amazed at the talent that is out there...God-given talent. Yet people don't realize it's God-given. They credit themselves for their abilities...their being able to "become" the person they are portraying on the silver screen, developing their own music style, or how they were self-made persons.

God is the Creator of all things. God is the Name above all names. If He created us, shouldn't credit be given to Him for what He has given us? I know, a person has to be committed to Jesus before any of this will be realized. I remember how many years I lived as the world lives, giving no thought to the Lord. However, when one's view on the things of the world begins to change there is a nagging in one's spirit that somehow this is meaningless. It comes with the territory, glad to say. It shows what really is important in life and not who you have become in the world, but who you are in Christ. It's like the verse from the song I added above...when you turn your eyes to Jesus, the Creator, the God above all gods, you will see things in a different light and realize what is truly important.

What does any person considered an idol really have to offer? They can't save a soul or bring eternal life. They can't do the miraculous. Yes, they might be able to offer money to charities and that's a good thing. But that kindness does not promise access to heaven unless their lives have been transformed by God and they do it with a heart for Him.

I looked up idol in Webster's dictionary and found two interesting meanings: an object of extreme devotion; a form or appearance visible but without substance. Now my mind sometimes thinks in offbeat ways...I actually felt like the last meaning meant more! What are movie, television or music stars to an average person? Aren't they visible forms?

What I see, however, is that sometimes they are without substance because of the way they live their lives? Maybe I'm stretching it a bit. The Bible, on the other hand, has a much stronger meaning: horrible thing; of no value, worthless; a false god. Yes, this generally refers to something we can see, but isn't that what is being done when one worships a person? It's of no value. We are told not to compare ourselves to others or envy their lifestyles.

I'm writing this not to judge Michael Jackson. Perhaps I have. I don't really know. I'm sure family and friends are saddened and I don't discount that. I just know that we are not to place anyone over the Lord our God. We should be worshipping God, not man, or not anything that could be considered an idol. It can takes us to places we should not be.

Psalm 97:9 - For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.