Articles
Fame Is Fleeting
There are a few people in this world who seek fame; others seek power; and some seek wealth. I hope I don't have to tell you all of those things are temporary, at best. Countless individuals have held power, but only so long as they lived — some for even shorter periods; many people have been described as wealthy, but that wealth was passed on to someone else at their death, and many lost it all long before they died; and many people have had their "15 minutes of fame" or longer [or shorter], but many names that were — at the time — well-known, have passed into obscurity.
But man still pursues fame, fortune, and power as if history has erroneously recorded the untold numbers who have sought those same things and who eventually came to realize the same sad reality that those things are only temporary. Sadly, generation after generation of parents pass on this poor example and false hope to their children, encouraging them to position themselves amongst their peers as 'popular' while they are in school, to seek their fortune through certain prestigious career fields, or to seek political power at any cost. Saddest of all are those who profess belief in God and Christ who pursue these same fleeting achievements, and who likewise pass on the pursuit of those things as the top priority to their children, who continue the cycle of chasing after the temporary things while ignoring, neglecting, or denying altogether the eternal.
Paul admonished the early Christians, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1, 2). Indeed, every disciple must have a mind set on the heavenly things and, at the same time, be disinterested in the world's offerings of fame, fortune, and power. The choice is clear when you read those words, but sometimes less so when someone is tempting us with one or more of those worldly offerings. Sometimes, we try to 're-interpret' passages that exhort us to be heavenly-minded, or make excuses for even thinking about the offers, or we might even try to tell ourselves we can pursue those worldly offerings and continue to follow Christ at the same time. Far too many times, we end up trying to justify our pursuits after the fact.
It will not be until we see the temporal nature of these worldly offerings that we see their inherent absence of value. As long as we think that there is some value to these worldly things, they will remain an option, or a temptation. As long as we think there may be a worthwhile benefit, we will leave open the possibility of pursuing one or the other, or even all of those worldly offerings.
To make the point about the fleeting existence of these worldly offerings, let us consider the matter of fame, or popularity.
When Jesus came into Jerusalem for one of the last times before His death on the cross, the people of the city welcomed Him like the royalty He was. Matthew's record tells us, “a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matt. 21:8, 9), and when some asked who He was, others replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matt. 21:10, 11). We may not fully understand all the meaning of the actions of the people at this time, but suffice it to say it was the equivalent of what we call today, "The red-carpet treatment." He was being honored by the common people in the best way they knew how.
Just a few days later, in that same city where He had been so royally welcomed, some of those same citizens were likely amongst the mob who faced Jesus again when Pilate brought Him out to them for them to decide His fate. When Pilate asked, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” they were stirred up by the religious leaders to cry out, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:22). And when Pilate then asked, “Why, what evil has He done?” they again cried out again, “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:23).
Fame and popularity are indeed fleeting.
Popularity, fame, or merely feeling accepted by one's family or friends is a poor standard by which one should live, yet it is quite often the only driving force behind what many in this world do — even those who profess to be followers of Jesus. Far too often, we are concerned about what "others" might think or say or do, and less concerned about whether or not God or Christ would be pleased with us. Far too often, we use the measure of popular opinion as the final factor in our decision-making process, regardless of what God has said.
As another example, consider some of the religious rulers of the first century. It is said that after Jesus had healed the man who had been blind since birth that “even among the rulers many believed in Him” (John 12:42); not surprising, considering what had just been done. But, sadly, that is where the good news ends. John continues: “…but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” Here are some men who had either seen the great miracle, or heard about it, and believed in Jesus, yet they were unwilling to confess their belief! Why was that? John continues again: “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). Simply put, they were more interested in what other men thought than what God thought.
I wish I could say that was unusual or rare, but it is most certainly not. More times than I can count, I have studied God's word with another individual, opening up the Bible for us to see what God actually said, only to find out that what they had believed for some time was not what God's word teaches, or that something they were doing was contrary to His will. That itself is not the issue, for all of us have sinned (cf. Rom. 3:23). The issue arises when they consider this new-found truth and then consider the implications, and then likewise refuse to accept or confess belief in the truth they have discovered because it would mean their family members or loved ones would be condemned, or would be upset if they renounced their error.
More than any other factor, family relations prevent obedience to the truth of the gospel simply because the individual craves the acceptance of their immediate family more than the acceptance of Jesus Himself. It must be noted, on this point, that Jesus knew this would be a common factor in many situations where one hears the truth, and to that end said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37).
But whether it is family, friends, or society as a whole whose acceptance we desire more than the acceptance of God and Christ, we must surely understand how foolish we will look when we stand before Jesus as our Judge, and we look back at our earthly life and have to acknowledge we chose them over Him.
You are here on earth for a short time, as is everyone else. Fame and popularity are fleeting. Eternity is forever. — Steven Harper
