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 what walk of life you find yourself in. I have included quite a few verses from this amazingly relevant book of Ecclesiastes. Starting in Chapter 1, verse 16 through chapter 2 verse 26, we read this;

I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure” but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. So I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, it also happens to me, and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.” For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!

Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 

Powerful words from Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived. He too, like Michael, knew what it was to have it all and to enjoy whatever he desired but, in the end, it did not satisfy. It will not satisfy us either, no matter how much we have or desire to have. Only one thing truly satisfies: A right relationship with Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, the savior of the world, the ransom for sinners, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. As for every human being, rich or poor, know or unknown, famous or forgotten, Kings and paupers, all will need to recognize Jesus as Lord of Lord. The bible says one day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.

During Michael’s memorial, a pastor said it perfectly: “Even the King of Pop will have to bow before the King of Kings”. Very true and sobering words. You see, when Michael was brought to the Coroner’s office in L.A. so that the autopsy could be performed, there were other bodies no doubt, next to his body, or close to his body (I don’t mean to me morbid here, out of respect for the family and friends) but, at that point, I thought to myself: “Wow, Michael Jackson, next to who knows who faced the same question: What did you do with Jesus Christ, my one and only son, whom I sent to save you from your sins and from the damnation that comes to everyone who refuses the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins through His blood shed on the cross? The answer to that question, will determine where we will spend eternity. In a place called heaven for those who have called on the name of Jesus from a true heart, for the bible says: Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. Or in a place of torment called hell for those who have not believe in Jesus Christ, the only remedy to the problem of sin, which ravages every human soul.

The bible says: “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) It also says in Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near”. It says again in 1John 1:9  “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

In closing, I wrote this article with the sole intentions of reminding all of us that nothing here on earth lasts forever. All die and must leave everything behind. The question is: Where will you spend eternity? In no way can I pretend to know the answer in the case of Michael Jackson. Only God knows. When a friend of mine texted me that MJ had just died, he wrote at the end of his text “I sure hope he knew Jesus”. I will leave it at that and, will hope to be greeted by him and the millions of Saints who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior. Only time will tell. Until then, may those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ live in such a way that they hasten the day of His return. 2 Peter 3:11-12 says:

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

And if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus Christ and made Him Lord and Savior of your life, I implore you, in the name of Jesus, believe in Him and be reconciled to God, before your time runs up….

2 Corinthians 5:20 ¶ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.