Young Celebrity Makes a Stand

(photo credit)

^{Colossians 3:17 (Amplified Bible)}
And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

I remember Ravi Zacharias talking about meeting a young celebrity, then starring in a very popular sitcom many years ago. This young man had come to speak with him after a service. He stated his problem simply: "I feel like I am my own god. I have people at my beck and call. Fans adore me and I feel I can do anything..."

I'm not sure what happened in this young man's life specifically, but he thereafter took a stand for what he believed in and soon his Hollywood career ended. From what I've read of Hollywood, he was probably blacklisted. Fast forward several years, this man is still married to the same woman, and still refuses to compromise his values for acting jobs. Shunned by the politically correct Hollywood and those enticed by its superficial glitter, he is embraced and highly respected by those who love God and follow after righteousness. In fact in a recent inspirational movie produced in which he was the star, he requested that his wife replace the actress for the only kiss in the script.

Integrity. Wholesomeness. Salt. Light.
Like when you saw Chariots of Fire and Eric Liddell's stand. Here is a brief summary from Wikepedia:
During the summer of 1924, the Olympics were hosted by the city of Paris. Liddell was a committed Christian and refused to run on Sunday (the Christian Sabbath), with the consequence that he was forced to withdraw from the 100 metres race, his best event. The schedule had been published several months earlier, and his decision was made well before the Games began. Liddell spent the intervening months training for the 400 metres, an event in which he had previously excelled. Even so, his success in the 400m was largely unexpected. The day of 400 metres race came, and as Liddell went to the starting blocks, an American masseur slipped a piece of paper into Liddell's hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30, "Those who honour me I will honour." Liddell ran with that piece of paper in his hand. He not only won the race, but broke the existing world record with a time of 47.6 seconds.

Do you remember the feeling of 'cleanness' you were left with after watching that movie? Would you not like to leave that legacy everywhere you touch?

I'm afraid not many celebrities who proclaim the Name of Jesus frivolously can attest to this courage. In fact, many of us cringe when we hear celebrities talk about Jesus in one breath and then see behaviour that does not seem consistent, like cavorting in clothes that leave nothing to the imagination. Lest we judge them harshly, we have to remember that Satan hates when we publicly make a stand for God's kingdom and does all that he can to discredit any testimony that might bring people to God. Yes, Satan targets them in many ways, temptation, media slander etc. Instead of slamming them, we should pray for them.

Not many of us have that public rise and fall. But all of us should come to that point when we realize that we have been trying to be god with our lives. I would say that God gave this young man a good dose of fear for a holy God that allowed him to make wise decisions that to the world was career suicide, but served in advancing God's kingdom. Perhaps there were people praying for this young man.

Why don't we pray for all our young people carried along by a tsunami of temptations?
Pray for:
-a reverential awe of God to infiltrate and clear minds that are foggy.
-that God will fill them with wisdom that comes from that sense of God's holiness, that would result in wise decisions.
-that God would write His instructions deep within their hearts.
-that they would yearn to follow Him and His ways.
-that they would ask themselves before any action, "How does this glorify God?"

How about you?
Do you question yourself?
Do your actions bring you glory, or do they shine glory on Him Who created you?

Proverbs 3 (Amplified Bible)

¹MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

²For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

³Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

⁴So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.

⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.

⁸It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;

¹⁰So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.

¹¹My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof,

¹²For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

¹³Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences],

¹⁴For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold.

¹⁵Skillful and godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.

¹⁹The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.

²⁰By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew.

²¹My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,

²²And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).

²³Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble.

²⁴When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless],

²⁶For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].

²⁷Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it--when you have it with you.

²⁹Do not contrive or dig up or cultivate evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly and confidently beside you.

³⁰Contend not with a man for no reason--when he has done you no wrong.

³¹Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways.

³²For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).

³³The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous.

³⁴Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.

³⁵The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools.