Life and Death
When Stars Die
By Stacie Ruth Stoelting
Guest Columnist
CBN.com
–Michael Jackson. Farrah Fawcett. Stars emerge, shine, and die. Applause matters nothing on deathbeds. (I pray for their families.) Instead, fickle fans mourn and move on… to the next star.
Think of Carlyle Blackwell. Not familiar with him? Well, he was a very famous movie star –in over 180 films!- with a star (#6340) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But pollution and street dirt mar his star…and will coat every star to come.
Why look to mortals for inspiration when God loves you like a celebrity? God’s awesome immensity infinitely surpasses any man or woman! He’s incomparably wonderful! Listen to God’s own words from Isaiah 40:25: “’To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.”
No one is God but God. God’s Word remains the final word. Media feature and fracture celebs faster than an exuberant toddler stumbles. Yes, celebrities and non-celebrities sin (fall short of God; make mistakes) and die. No one lives forever on earth and everyone makes misakes.
With my little girl, blonde bob and big eyes, I soulfully peered up at my first grade teacher: My clumsy hands had made a mistake…again. With gentle grace, Mrs. Grant said, “You know you’re perfect when you never need an eraser. Nobody’s perfect, Stacie.”
Yes. We all need erasers…or the delete button! (I had to use it on this column. Yes, “Backspace” has to be one of my favorite keys!)
Guess what? Jesus pushes the erase button! He selects and erases every sin of our past, present, and future whenever we ask Him to make us right with God.
God saw to it that you were born! He loves you so, so much. Jeremiah 31:3 sends my heart soaring! In it, God clearly states that "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
Fact: You don’t have to feel like an unpopular person…groping in the dark for significance and yearning to be liked. Jesus more than likes you: He loves you! He’ll brighten your life. The bright light of Jesus never fades! The bright light of Jesus beams out to you now. Will you receive it? I did and it’s indescribably magnificent! (My ministry’s very name declares this truth: Bright Light Ministry.)
Mortality makes us consider our morality. Does our life match up to the standards of our Life-Giver? God doesn’t measure us according to our fame. He notices how we play the game. This week, Gen-Xer’s felt hit hard. The news of celebrities’ deaths reminded them of their own aging and overall mortality. Tricia Goyer said it well in her insightful, applicable book, Generation NeXt Marriage (Multnomah, 2008): “If we hold loosely to the things of this world, we will discover eternal riches. What could be better than that?”
I agree with Tricia!
Eat and take home some delicious “take-out spiritual food” from Psalm 84:11: “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
Highlight this and let it sink into your heart: Jesus Christ loves you more than people love celebrities. He doesn’t view one person as more famous than another. He loves you beyond expression! He loves me. The King of kings, reigns with unending, glorious radiance! Why reject such a righteous, loving, all-powerful King? He sent His Son to die and rise again for you to live forever. Click here to meet Him.
Never doubt two things: the devil’s evilness and God’s goodness. God remains forever good and forever God. No celebrity compares. Could we ask for anything or anyone better than that?
With Jesus, we sparkle like stars in the universe. And I’m not just typing that. It’s God’s own point! Take a peek for yourself:
“Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives life. So when Christ comes again, I can be happy because my work was not wasted. I ran the race and won.” (Emphasis added to Philippians 2:14-16, NCV.)
Let’s shine for Jesus. Through Him, we shine as stars that never die!
 Stacie Ruth Stoelting has sung/spoken for the President, been pictured in major media (i.e. The New York Timesand USA Today), written a book at age 15, and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. Today, she offers a new conference for those hurting from job losses, financial troubles, depression, grief, diseases (like Alzheimer’s), and other heartaches through her national conference, The Heart Hospital. Her new album, Heavenly, will release nationally in July. To watch video clips, listen to music, view and download photos for articles, and other features, visit www.stacieruth.com or www.brightlightministry.com.
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