Time for the real X Factor
I recently read an article that said the great British public is losing interest in celebrities. Not the A list actor types who have genuine skills and abilities to entertain, but the so called Z list celebrities who are famous just for… well, being famous. The journalist was citing such programmes as “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” and “Strictly Come Dancing”. Programmes that once drew huge audiences, but this year had millions less tuning in. The article noted ‘people are fed up with watching people who had a bit part in ‘The Bill’ once or who are simply famous for being drunk and wearing very little clothes’.
People are searching for real heroes. There is a deep truth here that strikes a chord in all of us. We want people who can inspire us, make us laugh, cry and usually all at the same time. We want people who can make us dream bigger, see further, do greater. And even sports start can’t quite fit the pedestal we want to place them on. Starts promoted as ‘the family guy’ one day are then splashed across the News of the World for tawdry antics that are shameful.
In reality no human being can ever reach the place of perfection, be the role model require for our children etc. And that is because as human beings, as we ourselves know, we are all flawed. We all have weaknesses and strengths. And as much as we would only want to focus on the strengths, sooner or later the weaknesses can be seen.
Whenever I am confronted by another news headline talking about the downfall or disgrace of so and so, I am so glad my hero is not to be found in a man or a woman.
The greatest hero we can look to is Jesus. The son of God, and God the son (even that sentence contains truths hard for our heads to understand). Someone who shows us what life is really about and how to live it. He who places other above self, and loves sacrificially (and how hard is that!). He who refuses to give up on others, and chooses to forgive when He had every right to bring down wrath from heaven. He who heals the broken, even when some are broken by their own bad choices. He is the master rebuilder.
Jesus cares about the depressed, the imprisoned, the sad, the lonely. He cares about the successful and the ambitious. Jesus refocuses our priorities (if we let Him) and teaches us on what matters and what really doesn’t (he has quite a lot to say about money for instance).
Jesus is not meek and mild though as He is often painted. he talks about a coming judgement and urges us to use the life God has given us to fulfil His plans and purposes (rather than squandor our lives on getting and never giving). This year you need to make a choice. Who’s life will you be living – yours? – Or the one Jesus planned for you? Fix your eyes on Jesus, follow Him and be amazed at what he can do through you.
The Apostolic Church – Sermon Audio
A powerful message today from Senior Pastor Roy Morley, encouraging us to not be inward looking but rather remember that church should be apostolic – “going”.
Are you ready for the challenge that church should bring? Are you ready to break barriers in your own life so that “not one should perish”?
Listen to the message, embrace the challenge and change the world!
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