Forever Fame

So Josh

We all have decisions in life to make. Sometimes it's us making them, sometimes they seem to be made for us. I think it's true that everyone desires their fifteen minutes in the spotlight, where everyone sees, recognizes and loves them...the thing is (and the entertainment magazines seem to back this up) that the higher you climb, the farther you have to fall. Is there an alternative?

FIRST WATCH THIS VIDEO

Fame
I'm gonna live forever
I'm gonna learn how to fly
High

I feel it coming together Fame
People will see me and cry

I'm gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
Fame

I'm gonna live forever
Baby remember my name

I was a teenager when I first heard this song from the movie Fame and I still remember how it connected with what seemed like every student’s dream at the time - to do something, be something, or leave something behind that would be remembered forever.

Fast forward 30 years, and we have the remixed, rebooted movie that looked promising in the previews, but still is not a flick that I think will live forever.

Except maybe in the bargain bin of misfit movies at Blockbuster.

That being said, there’s something in the song and movie that I believe still connects with the soul of a teenager. In fact, not only the soul of a teen, but of all human beings. We want people to remember our names, don’t we? I know I’ve never met anyone who said, “Gee…I hope my life turns out to be a meaningless, purposeless collage of failed attempts to be remembered for something.”

But how does one go about lighting up the sky like a flame? Do we have to have mad music and dancing skills? Do we have to attend a special school and look like Abercrombie and Fitch models?

Well, that would definitely rule me out…but no big deal, because I’m looking for a very different kind of fame - the kind that actually will live forever because it’s attached to something that lasts forever.

You get this, right? You understand that even the highest level of recognition and celebrity status will eventually fade away, so that all the attempts to live forever will eventually be thrown into the bargain bin of eternity.

It’s too bad that so many people believe the lie that fame equals happiness and take their God-given desire to leave a mark on the world and use it for themselves.

You want fame? Take this advice:

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:16-17, NLT).

Did you catch the formula for “fame” here? No special talents, looks, or connections…simply an unquenchable desire and unflinching direction to do “what pleases God.”

In other words, when you take fame off your agenda and instead live to make Jesus Christ famous, you attach yourself to something that will never fade away. And if you do have special abilities, you can use the applause of the crowd as a platform to bring praise to God.

Of course, the best way to make Jesus Christ famous is to spread the word about who He is and what He has done for all of humanity. My song and dance in life is telling everyone I know about the High King of heaven who humbled Himself and died a horrible death in our place in payment of our sin, then came back from the dead to show His power and plan to raise us from the grave as well.

And my fame? No, it won’t be in this life and frankly, I couldn’t care less about that because my sights are set on a day that is painted beautifully in this song:

I dreamed I went to heaven
And you were there with me;
We walked upon the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea.
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name.
We turned and saw a young man running
And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
Unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."*

*Music and Lyrics by Ray Boltz

That’s fame. That’s forever fame.

Do you want in? Then make this poem your life motto:

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”
—Unknown Author

Original post taken from "Soul Fuel: Fuel for the Mission" 09.28.09

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A Message (from Coldplay)

So Josh,

I was listening to this song on Youtube today. It's called "A Message" by Coldplay. I know you know it, you being the Coldplay freak you are :-)!! The link to the video is here. It's pretty powerful. Check it out. Part of the lyrics are as follows:

A Message
My song is love
Love to the loveless shown
And it goes on
You don't have to be alone

Your heavy heart
Is made of stone
And it's so hard to see you, clearly
You don't have to be on your own
You don't have to be on your own

And I'm not gonna take it back
And I'm not gonna say I don't mean that
You're the target that I'm aiming at
Can I get that message home?

My song is love
My song is love unknown,
But I'm on fire for you, clearly
You don't have to be alone
You don't have to be on your own.

It makes me smile, because today I'm not feeling too close to the Lord. Today, I'm more aware of my humanness and sin than God's holy Presence living inside of me. Today, I'm asking the question: "Why even bother with me, Lord?"

It makes me smile, because even though this song may be, on the surface about human relationships, it's actually a hymn of worship! Don't believe me? Then check out these lyrics to a hymn, written by Samuel Crossman, in 1664:

My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

You can read the full lyrics here.

Hmmm...interesting similarity, eh? Coldplay...inspired by a hymn? Why not!
In fact, Chris Martin, in an interview with Rolling Stone talks about this song. He said:

"A Message" and "Til Kingdom Come" both come from having quite a religious upbringing. "A Message" is taken from a hymn we used to sing called "My Song Is Love Unknown," and we'd say "kingdom come" every week in the Lord's Prayer. One of the great things about being forced to go to church services is that we'd sing all these big songs. That's partly why I'm obsessed with getting everyone to sing along at our shows. It makes me feel like I'm a part of something.

To read the full interview, click here.

I just need to hear that right now - Christ's love was (and is) shown to the loveless (me). So that I might become lovely. He took my robe of sin so I might wear his robe of cleanness, wholeness, holiness. Why did Christ die for me? I don't know. Except to say it was for love. This is the greatest love song ever - Jesus' life, death and resurrection. This song I can keep repeating over and over in my head, and it NEVER grows old. And the chorus to this song?

Even while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me (Romans 5:8)

That can be your life chorus too.

God: "My song is love unknown.
Love to the loveless shown.
And it goes on: You don't have to be alone"

God: "You're the target that I'm aiming at..."

God: "Can I get that message home? But I'm on fire for you, clearly..."

Me: I'm beginning to get it again. Thank you, Lord.