The Only Audience that Matters

Fame, fortune, talent, stardom - whether in life or death, few stars wield Michael Jackson's headline-grabbing power. Initially it was his groundbreaking talent that built a worldwide fan base. But over time, his bizarre behaviors and appearance took center stage in the tabloids and his alleged sex abuse and baby-dangling notoriety began to overshadow his music and moon walk... now his death.

Jackson's reputation never fully recovered from the 1993 child sexual abuse charges he faced. Realizing that, Jackson longed for a career-changing comeback. His final weeks were filled with rehearsals for his sold out comeback tour. But in the end, his comeback dream evaporated in the blink of an eye. Instead, the legendary King of Pop found himself facing an unexpected appearance before the only audience that matters...God Almighty: The King of the Universe.

How do you rehearse for that?

Good question! In fact, it may be the most important question you ever ask and answer. And the Bible has some insights for us on the subject. Listen to what Jesus said about sudden death to a guy who was busy expending all his energy accumulating $$$ and the things it can buy:

Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."

Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."

Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'

"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God" (Luke 12:13-21).

Who wants to be called a fool when it comes to what's important in life? So it might be wise to listen up to what Jesus is actually saying here. Here it is: You're a fool if you store up material things, but ignore God's offer of a rich relationship with Him.

So what does a rich relationship with God look like?

According to Scripture, it starts with a restored relationship to God through Jesus' work on the cross. Jesus died to pay the price for the sin of all humankind and restore our relationship with a holy, perfect God. Accepting the free gift of salvation that God offers is the launching point for a deep, rich, personal relationship with the God of the Universe. But the Bible also tells us that God promises us many things when we seek His forgiveness for our sins and accept Jesus' gift of grace. Here are just a few:

• The gift of eternal life with God in heaven (1 John 5:13)
• The right to become children of God, with 24/7 access to our Heavenly Father (1 John 3:12, Romans 8:38-39)
• The ability to tap into God's strength and walk in His power (Acts 1:8, Philippians 4:13)
• The responsibility to be God's ambassadors, representing Him in a lost and broken world and sharing His Good News with others (2 Corinthians 5:20).

If you were suddenly called to appear before the throne of God, would you be prepared? Contrary to what many people believe, God does not take your good deeds and weigh them against your bad deeds and give you a grade as an entrance exam when it comes to heaven. All the millions of dollars Michael Jackson raised and donated to charity during his lifetime, weighed against his bad deeds (which you can be sure God knows the full extent of...), will not be the thing that buys him an admission ticket to heaven. It's only by grace that any of us can receive God's gift of eternal life, not by good deeds. Listen to what Ephesians 2:8-9 says:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

Make sure you, your friends and your family are prepared for the only audience that matters - tell them about the good news of Christ!

Car accident...Suicide...Heart attack... God has numbered our days. You never know when you or your friends may have a sudden audience with the King of the Universe. Are they prepared for the only audience that really matters? Are you? Store up for yourself a rich relationship with God and help your friends do the same.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous (1 John 3:12).

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Why am I here?

Your attention please...this is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune for further information.

Please answer (in your mind) the following question.

Why did God put you here on earth?

I know this isn't something that crosses your mind that often, but it's important to consider how you would answer this. Why? Because in a huge way, the way you answer this question determines the way you live your life. Here's the most significant thing: there is a right and wrong answer to this question, and you are bombarded with the wrong answers every day.

If you don't know the right answer to this question, then I'm afraid you won't be able to get a clue even if you lived on clue island during clue mating season wearing clue musk...that's how critical this is! So let's take a look at the wrong answers that the world might be whispering-and what the Creator of life has to say about them:

World: "I'm put on this earth to get as much pleasure and profit as possible."

God: " But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. " (I Timothy 6:9) "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." (Luke 12:15)

World: "I'm put on this earth so I could be happy. I now have my 'get out of hell free' card, so I'm going to take life easy."

God: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." (Luke 12:16-21)

World: "I was put on this earth to live and let live. I have no right to offend people and/or tell them their belief system is wrong. I'm just going to chill out, find a comfortable job and group of friends. There is no way I'm going to 'rock the boat.'"

God: Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

Why did God put me here on earth? It really comes down to a simple point of view. Either you believe God put you here for you, or He put you here for Him. Living life with a trivial pursuit attitude of getting rich and famous is the worst choice you could make. Living life with the eternal pursuit attitude of earning riches in heaven and making God famous on earth is the best choice you could make.

So, care to change your original answer? I would highly recommend it, (if it was the wrong one) because not doing so may bring about an actual emergency in your life!

Head: What you need to know about this truth

We are put on this earth to serve God and make Him famous, not serve ourselves and make ourselves famous.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

If you can get a hold of this truth, it will completely and radically change your life! There are basically only two types of people in the world: the self-servers and the God servers. The self-servers find out (sooner or later) that they have served themselves up a big dish of emptiness. The God servers discover what a really smart guy named Augustine said hundreds of years ago:

"You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you."

Feel excited that you have found the only real source of true purpose and contentment: serving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Here's an idea that you could apply immediately. Each morning say a prayer something like this:

"Father, my life is yours-bought with the blood of Your Son Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and use me, lead me, and guide me to accomplish Your will and advance Your Kingdom"

Here's a great illustration about this truth:

• http://www.everystudent.com/wires/greatest.html

Here's a funny video about this truth:

• http://www.sermonspice.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=592

Some resources from Dare2Share & Soulfuel

The Christian Tetris Effect

Have you ever stopped to consider the amazing power of Tetris? It was invented over 20 years ago, and since then has dominated the world. It was voted the second best video game in history, and it even has a medical condition named after it! I'm serious - it's called the "Tetris Effect," and I'm willing to bet that some of you reading this suffer from this cybersickness.

Basically, the "Tetris Effect" happens when after playing the game for an hour or so, you still have the taunting little images falling through the brainwaves in your head - so you keep playing a mental version of the game. Another way it shows up is when you are at a grocery store and you see some boxes that might fit together better to make a row. I even heard of folks who will gaze at a beautiful downtown skyline, and instead of admiring the glass and steel human achievement, are instead thinking about how the buildings might be turned in a Tetris like fashion for a better position.

The most recent sign of the Tetris Effect showed up on (of course) You Tube. Two wildly popular videos pay tribute to the game in very bizarre ways. The first video is a clip from a Japanese game show where contestants have a huge wall with a blank Tetris shape approaching them at a pretty good pace. The contestants have to get themselves into whatever shape is coming their way to fit through, otherwise they get bashed into a pool of water...or some liquid...ewww.

The other video is a 'human Tetris' that has groups of people in different colored shirts coming down church pews just like the real version of the game. The player rearranges the groups of people so they can make rows and disappear.

Again, cybersickness at it's best.

The video of the church Tetris, though, really got me thinking. I sometimes wonder if God is a Tetris fan? What I mean is - maybe He's looking down at all the folks in church who just come and sit, and He'd love to rearrange them so they could fit together and accomplish something. The reason I think this might be true is because in the Bible there is an important part of the Christian life called 'spiritual gifts'. Here's what it read says:

God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel

clear understanding

simple trust

healing the sick

miraculous acts

proclamation

distinguishing between spirits

tongues

interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Just like the different people in different colored shirts, every Christian is given a different special ability called a 'spiritual gift' from the Holy Spirit that we need to use at church and anywhere else we have an opportunity. When we don't use them, it's like a Tetris round where the pieces just fall where ever, and the game is over quickly.

So are you ready to pick up the 'Christian Tetris Effect'? Can you picture where you fit into your church or youth group with your spiritual gift? Here are some ideas for you:

Do you like to serve? Then find a place to serve!

Are you a good listener and encourager? Then let people know you're available!

Do you enjoy helping get things organized? Then let your youth leader know! (Believe me, he or she will be very glad to get some help).

The power of Tetris is great, but believe me, the power of learning where you fit in with your spiritual gifts and using them to help others is one of the greatest powers the universe has ever seen.

So are you ready to play?

Head: What you need to know about this truth

When a person trusts in Christ as his/her only hope of salvation, the Holy Spirit gives them a unique ability called a spiritual gift that should be used to help fulfill God's plan for the church and the world.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

You should feel amazingly special and responsible. Amazingly special because God chose you to accomplish a mission on earth through your spiritual gift. Responsible because this is one of the main purposes to your life, and you will be judged on how well or not so well you used your gift.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

One of the best ways to have a discussion about spiritual gifts is to talk about how you would react in a specific situation. For example, if a server spills someone's meal all over the restaurant floor and a group of Christians are sitting nearby, each individual will react differently based on his/her spiritual gift. The gift of mercy responds by helping to clean up the mess, the gift of giving offers to pay for another meal, the gift of exhortation seeks to cheer up the server. The gift of administration delegates and organizes the whole matter to avoid confusion. The gift of teaching suggests some ways to make sure the spill doesn't happen again, etc. Your spiritual gift makes you sensitive to certain needs that others may not see. Another way to get educated and get help with discovering your spiritual gift is to complete a spiritual gifts inventory. Talk to your pastor, youth leader, parent, or a mature Christian adult about where to find one and how to interpret the results.

(Some resources from Dare2Share & SoulFuel)