We live in a very 'idol driven'
society, but it doesn't have to be that way. Here's some
very needful information that will help you understand how
to move beyond idols:
You’d think Simon Cowell would
be used to it by now.
But the caustic American Idol judge was railing again about
the “tone-deaf” auditioners that he, along with
Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, is forced to endure.
“If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like
that, I think they would have stoned you.”
or
“And THAT is what you think we are looking for?”
or
“You have wasted my time— You have wasted
everybody’s time.”
The television show American Idol all starts with 80,000
hopefuls waiting in line for days. It ends each season with
ONE person being crowned before 30 million viewers as the
next American Idol. All those rejections...all that pain
(for singer and audience alike) seem like a high price to
pay for a chance at “celebrity/immortality.”
A recent AP news article lamented for the rejected masses
that “Every good soul deserves a place in television
heaven.” But as we all know, “TV heaven”
is a place reserved for the talented, the attractive, the
lucky few who somehow manage to squeak in. Fortunately for
the rest of us, the REAL heaven is not like that. There are
plenty of openings. In fact, an infinite number.
To make it into the real heaven, you need no talent, no
skills or special looks. All you need is to believe that
Jesus is God and that He performed the greatest act in history
when He died on a cross and rose again. Does that sound ridiculous?
How ridiculous is it to take a one-in-80,000 chance to become
an “idol” and most likely end up just making
a fool of yourself on TV?
Some of the reactions from rejected hopefuls in the show
have been:
“I tried my best.”
or
“I’m a good person.”
Those are surely true statements, but sincerity did not win
them the prize. The truth is, in the real heaven your best
is nowhere near good enough for entrance either. And thank
goodness it doesn’t have to be! (Neither is your worst
ever bad enough to keep you out.)
This concept is clearly stated in the
Bible:
“For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
There is only One who was ever good
enough to make the cut, and He got into heaven first and
then paid your entrance fee too. (He was related to the show’s
“Producer.”)
1 Peter 3:18 puts it this way:
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in
the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Acts 13:38 agrees:
Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Once forgiven, you stand in a new relationship
with God, and the gap between you and Him is removed forever.
You can now enjoy full communion with your Creator. Jesus
Christ becomes not only your Savior, but your Idol as well.
Make Him so—and you will not need to prove yourself
to God again. If you want to begin a new relationship with
God right now, please take the next step by visiting:
www.IChooseJesus.com
Photos: NewsCom & iStock, Art:
Covenant Designs • Printed in USA • ©2004
• Bible Reference: NIV
|