RSS
Home
Richard and Mayumi Heene and the drive for fame
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The infamous balloon
This past week Richard and Mayumi Heene tried to pull off a scam on the watching world. They built a hot-air balloon in the shape of a flying saucer, told their son to hide, released the balloon into the air and then told the media their son was in the balloon! They were exposed by their own son during a Larry King Live show. Richard Heene asked his son why he hid. The son, in a moment of candor, said, “You guys said we did this for the show.” The fame-crazed couple put the whole thing together in a desperate attempt to land a “reality” TV show.
I read recently that the one thing the average American wants is to be known. The same study said that people didn’t really care what they were known for or how they got their fame; they just wanted to be known. That explains, I suppose, the popularity of reality TV.
Hollywood mirrors our national psyche with their constant self-aggrandizement. With one award show after the other they pat themselves on the back and tell each other how really grand they are. On a much smaller scale the average Joe pursues recognition and praise by parading physical beauty or prowess, social status and wealth, intellectual achievements or all of the above.
The life of Jesus stands in stark contrast. He came humbly, quietly, almost secretly into the world. He shunned the spotlight. Often after healing someone he would tell them not to tell anyone about what had happened. Fame came…it came because of who he is, because of what he did and because of the life he lived and the death he died. He didn’t pursue fame for fame’s sake. As Paul said, “He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him.”
The pursuit of God is not the pursuit of fame or recognition. Jesus instructs us to go out of our way to make sure we don’t act so as to be seen by others. The insatiable desire to be known reveals a soul-hunger, an emptiness and a spiritual void of the heart. This longing to be known can only be truly met as we come to know and be known by God our Maker through faith in Jesus Christ.
Here is wisdom: “Let no the wise man glory in his wisdom; let not the mighty man glory in his might; nor the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this; that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.” -Jeremiah 9:23-24
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
