Daily Devotional for Wednesday June 28, 2006
Three Issues from the Michael Jackson Case that are Relevant to Your Life
(John 8:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; John 14:15)
One year ago the nation was been riveted to the child molestation trial of pop superstar Michael Jackson for four months. I have identified three key issues from that sad story that are relevant and pertinent to your daily life today. The pundits and legal analysts debated ad nausea the legal issues and verdict the jury eventually reached, however, I am interested in focusing today on three key issues from the Jackson case that can affect your very life.
The first of these issues is truth. Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that satan is a liar, he is the father of lies. Our Lord says that when satan speaks, he speaks his native language, lying! The Bible tells us that lying is a sin. God on the other hand represents truth. His Word is Absolute Truth. As I have shared with you in the past, there is only black and white, gray doesn't exist. It is either the truth or it is a lie. When you lie you are following satan, and subsequently, when you tell the truth you are following God.
One of the key reasons the jury gave in finding Jackson not guilty on all counts was the untruthfulness of the accuser and his mother. The accuser gave different versions of his story about what he alleged happened to him to the police, to the grand jury, and in the trial. Even more glaring was the voluminous number of lies the accusers mother told in a legal proceeding against J.C. Penny's, in her dealings with the California welfare system, as well as in this case. The lies told by the accuser and his mother had a big part in Jackson being acquitted on the charges brought against him.
It is critical for those who know the Lord, those who represent Christ to be people of truth. When we lie, we not only are acting like satan, but we are hurting our ability to represent the Lord. If we want people to believe us when we speak to them about spiritual issues, we have to be truthful in all areas of our life so that they take us seriously. If you are a liar, why would you expect anyone to believe you when you tell them about Jesus? We are often called the people of Truth. We all need to do our best to live up to that title each and every day.
The second issue is to avoid all appearances of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us point blank to, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." As I sit here today I can't tell you with 100% certainty that Michael Jackson has ever molested a child. However, I can tell you with 100% certainty that a grown man who sleeps with young boys in his bed every night, especially young boys that are not his, looks horrible. It has all the appearance of something evil no matter what the explanation may be.
This is one of the key elements in why living together outside of marriage is NOT acceptable. When the next door neighbor sees a man and woman living together it is automatically assumed they are having sex. The fact is, they may not be but that is what people think. Some may say I don't care what other people think, but as a child of God you have to care. Never forget, we are His ambassadors, His representatives, and we are responsible not only for our actions but how others see our lives.
YOU ARE THE ONLY BIBLE SOMEONE MAY EVER READ. YOUR LOUDEST WITNESS IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY BUT HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE MUST AVOID ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL!
The third and final issue deals directly with Michael Jackson as the example of a man who has sadly chosen to live his life in rebellion to God and His Word, a man who is lost and living without any real hope. I have stated over and over that our way doesn't work, God's way does. Even without this legal proceeding that could have cost him his freedom for many years, Michael Jackson's life is a mess by anyone's standards. My friend, when you live your life apart from Christ, when you are living life YOUR WAY and not God's way, life simply doesn't work. It doesn't matter if you are an international superstar with virtually unlimited resources, it STILL doesn't work!
Despite his vast material possessions, Michael is bankrupt in the things that really matter in life, joy, peace, contentment, HOPE! That only comes through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and living according to God's Word. Sadly, Michael grew up in the Jehovah's Witnesses cult. This is the cult born out of the depraved mind of Charles Taze Russell and denies the very deity of Christ. (You can go to Google and type in "cults Jehovah's Witnesses" and it will give you many websites to document their false theology.)
Michael has sadly followed the false theology of the Jehovah's Witnesses and chosen to live his life in rebellion to God and His Word. During his trial, instead of turning to the Jesus of the Bible for strenght, he turned to another cult I have exposed, Kaballah, signified by the "red string" bracelet he wore throughout the trial. Clearly a man lost and searching.
Now, many people will point out all of the great humanitarian deeds Jackson has done in his life, the multi-millions he has given to charity, and those are wonderful acts that should be commended. But we can't work or buy our way into Heaven. No amount of money or good works saves you, only faith in Jesus Christ and God's grace can save you (Ephesians 2:8,9).
The fact is, Michael Jackson like all men is born into this life with sin in addition to those sins he has committed during his life, and it is that sin that separates him from a Holy God. The moment he dies he will stand before God and the number of records he sold, the number of people who saw him perform, all of his good deeds won't mean anything. The ONLY thing that will matter is if has he accepted the Jesus of the Bible by faith as his Lord and Savior.
I love you and care about you so much. I will be praying for you today in these three areas of your life. That you will be a man or woman of the truth, that you will avoid all appearances of evil in your life, and that you will live your life each day for Christ, following His Word. The goal of every follower of Christ is to be like our Lord. One way to be like Him is to tell the truth. We know that satan is a liar and when we lie, we are following satan and not the Lord.
We can never forget that people are watching us at all times and we have a responsibility to let them see Christ in us. One way we can do that is by avoiding all appearances of evil. Lastly, when we choose to live in rebellion to God and His Word life simply doesn't work. Even if it looks good to others, it doesn't work because the real joy, peace, and abundance is missing. Our way never works and only brings us consequences. God's way works and brings us blessings.
I have no idea if Michael Jackson molested this child who accused him or any other child. I do know that all of those children who have been involved in these cases over the years need our prayers for healing and that they will find a relationship with Christ. May we also pray for Michael. Jesus Christ died for Michael Jackson just like He died for you and me. I pray that Michael will come to a place in his life where he will embrace the love of Christ, that perfect love he has been looking for his entire life, and that he will come to know the Jesus of the Bible by faith.
Even though he has been acquitted of the charges brought against him, the moment he dies he will stand before The Judge, God Himself. At that moment, if he dies without Christ he will be standing all alone. There will be no high-priced defense attorney, no family, no fans, only God who will judge him for his sins and cast him into everlasting darkness. At that moment, if he has accepted Christ as his Savior by faith, he won't be standing alone. Next to him will be the ultimate defense attorney, JESUS CHRIST, who will tell The Judge that his sins have been paid for and Michael Jackson will be ushered into God's presence for all eternity.
ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm.