"Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King...."
Micheal Jackson's Funeral started with this beautiful hymn that speaks of the King of Kings, Jesus. I was not sure that the choir was praising God or making reference to the King of Pop, but it made me think that we all have an appointment to see God.
I have to admit, in the past two weeks I have been drawn to news shows wanting to hear the latest on Micheal Jackson's crazy life. I can't say I have shed a tear or wanted to be at his funeral, but MJ was an interesting man to say the least. He will always be somewhat of a mystery to us all.
I was in my late twenties when Micheal Jackson was topping the charts with his music. He was an amazing artist, and an incredible dancer. My brother, Aaron, did a little break dance routine to MJ's music (I am sure he will love that I just posted that for all to read). When "Thriller" came out, I would stay up late into the night hoping to catch it on MTV. He was truly mesmerizing, and I loved his music.
I liked Micheal the best when he was writing songs to help other. When "We are the World" hit the radio, we would try to name the singers by their unique voices. He followed it up with some other touching songs, like "Man in the Mirror'. Sadly, over time, he started to show a side that most of us found too bizarre, if not disturbing.
I have wondered the past two weeks what happened to Micheal when he took his last breath. Did he have faith in the true King of Kings? Did that faith get lost in money and fame, or was it never to be? Did he have any regrets when he came face to face with his creator? I wonder what kind of regrets I will have.
I think it is so merciful and kind of God to not require works, money, or fame to enter into His presence. We don't need a wrist band and a ticket to see the real King, He is just a prayer away. When we have a relationship with God, we have a "Family Pass" to be in His presence and speak to Him any time we want. As a believer, I am promised that in an instant God will usher me into His presence and wipe away all tears from my eyes.
"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17
I think that perhaps the most important lesson I will learn from Micheal Jackson is to take a good look in the mirror and make those changes now so that I can be what God wants me to be on earth. We only have one life to live. We should be living it with purpose. The only purpose that is lasting is the one that includes God.
Here is a recent quote by Ben Stein:
"There are plenty of stars in the American firmament..the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards. Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters This is my highest and best use as a human.
I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them. But, I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.
This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York . I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human."
I encourage you to take a look at yourself in the mirror and find ways to make changes in your life so that when your day on earth is done, you can hear "Well done my good and faithful servant" and be ushered into God's presence so that he can wipe all tears from your eyes.
God Bless,
Sandy
