Fame and Fortune

I am wondering dear reader, about a little thought that we can explore together.

Look with me at the devastating of souls of the rich and famous: those that have been elevated to star status, mere humans travelling heavenly heights, lifted up by plebeians that are inclined to worship and adore those they believe are better than themselves. 

Star status, for goodness sakes! Who made up that comparison and analogy? 

This morning, I turned on the light in my kitchen. It was early and the darkness had yet to lift. Oddly, I saw light shining under a kitchen curtain, reflecting off the ceramic tile. I thought it strange, since no street lights lit my backyard, and the spot of light was so bright. I opened the curtain to see the source of light, and my eyes were drawn upward: there the moon glowed, looking down on me as I smiled up to him.

God is light, God provides light, God brightens the darkness, and when we look for illumination, it is to him we must turn our gaze, always and forever, to him alone. Which brings me to the thought I had, that started as a conversation with a good friend. The thought was a wondering... wonder with me now?

When I consider all the famous people, now made infamous by their utter apostasy and blasphemous declarations in public forums, I wonder if they ever knew Christ at all? If they did, as Judas had when he was privileged to spend time with the living God, did they do as Judas had done, selling their Saviour for a mere thirty pieces of silver, or in modern translation, all the glitter and shine of fools gold, in the form of fame and fortune? Jesus was first and similarly tempted by the devil himself, just before his ministry of reconciling the world to himself began:

Luke 4: 2-14

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

And the devil, said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him though all the region round about.

Jesus modelled holiness in his responses to the devil, and dear reader, anyone that belongs to him, clings to his example and asks for the power of the Spirit of God, to so imbue us with the very same strength, when temptation threatens our soundness and faith. 

The thirty pieces of silver that purchased Judas' betrayal, bought the land on which he hung himself... his life became worthless. My point being, dear reader, that sell outs short change themselves, and whatever reward they get here on earth for betraying their King, is very little indeed to what their inheritance would have been if they had bowed to the Sovereign rather than to Baal. 

No one can sell out the Saviour. No one can cheat Christ. Even the devil quoted scripture, which is quite an interesting bit of intel if we look closely. He tried to try the Lord, with his own words... only the devil and his minions, in spirit and human form, could be so arrogant!

Now that we have what I consider a back drop for our topic and wondering, I want to address the real reason for our time together. I am thrilled to consider the humble and meek, the talented and timid, those among us that could have been big names in the entertainment industry, or in politics, or in world affairs, that could have been famous and fortunate financially, above and beyond wildest dreams. Those that were tempted and tried and declined, when they realized it was their soul they would have to remit, as an entrance fee for such public grandeur. They wanted not to be shining super stars, but quiet servants of the Lord, and when we look at The Bible greats, many were men made wise in old age, and rather resistant to be called to duty by God; they didn't see themselves as worthy, as capable, as talented, as able, and yet God chose them because he saw in them, sparks of his brilliance, reflections of Who he is. Willing hearts and weak human hands, made strong by God's spirit. 

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 

Look with me at Jesus. Fame of him went out through all the region round about. How come, dear reader? This Man/God had lived in relative obscurity until this point, and yet he becomes famous after denying the devil any diabolical pleasure by giving into to his temptations. What is happening here?

I am thrilled, dear reader, to impart this brief snippet of significancy with you. I am excited that I actually KNOW people, that have repeatedly and insistently said no to demonic hints, suggestions, attempted impositions, and offers of fame and fortune. I delight in knowing humans that love the Truth, Who is of course, Jesus Christ, so much, that they could care less about bread, power, or earthly safety! 

Jesus is the staff, the bread, of life

Jesus is the power to which saints bow, and from which we get our strength

Jesus is our security, our safe haven, our heavenly reward and promise

Oh happy days, if only we could give this Truth too all without them rejecting it constantly and consistently. 

What we see, is self-betrayal by the rich and famous. In their mocking of God, they have made fools of themselves. All those that have been froward, in the future will be fodder for the fire: some have gone so far as to never be recovered or redeemed. Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is an unpardonable sin. 

The light shines brightest in the darkness, dear reader. Let the light that shines forth from you, be God's, and give no praise to yourself, and seek not the glory that belongs only to the Lord, your God. We have been warned, admonished, and redeemed, and we must remain steadfast, when all the world is ablaze in bizarre and wicked self-destructive endeavours.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass (Psalm 37:7)

The wicked will receive their reward here on earth, and no fame or fortune will protect them from the wrath of the righteousness of God.