DECEMBER.07.2009
The Cost Of Glory

The cost of glory.
The tragedy isn’t so much that MJ died, although death can sometime seem unfair, premature and in some cases avoidable but the truth is, it is unavoidable as the bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment ”. The real tragedy would be for MJ to have died without Jesus. By that I mean that he would have died without acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior, asking Him to forgive him of his sin and recognize that Jesus is the only way to salvation, the only way to heaven, to God the Father, for Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
I found myself reading article after article regarding Michael and the circumstances surrounding his death. I found myself listening to videos and newscast about Michael Jackson, in an attempt to gather as much information as I possibly could on this Pop icon, his life story and what would ultimately bring him down, the prescription drugs he would take to try and ease the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pain.
Michael died of an overdose of glory. Let me explain; I know that technically he died of a cardiac arrest most likely caused by the prescription drugs he was taken and/or administered but, somehow, I believe that Michael died of an overdose of glory. You see, no man or woman is wired to receive glory and praise the way Michael did. No one can be worshipped and adored the way Michael was. The only one worthy to receive glory is God himself. When Michael reached both the top of the charts and the pop music world and was declared some time later, the “King Of Pop”, it was all too much for him. No one can receive such adulation and survive. As a musician and as an artist, I have often seen myself striving to maintain the very little in comparison to MJ’s fame and notoriety I had achieved in the mid 90s as a Christian artist. I can only imagine what it would feel like for someone like Michael.
Basically, what I am trying to say is this: with all that Michael had accomplished, the 750 Million record sold which was the most sold CD in the history of music, with well over 105 million of his “thriller” album sold alone, all these accomplishments and fame still felt like it was not enough. He said when asked if he was a happy man in an interview many years ago, that he was not happy and that inside, he was rather quite sad. An amazing revelation coming from one of the most famous and successful man of our era. What was missing? What went wrong, you might ask? He is no different than Solomon, who lived thousands of years ago and penned the following words. You will find them very fitting in this particular situation. Read them carefully and allow the words to challenge your own desire and pursuit for greatness and success, no matter ...
