First Baptist Church, Hamilton
What happens to celebrities when they die? We have no royalty in this country. But celebrities like Michael Jackson come close to holding such a place in the minds of some. Appearing to lead picture-perfect lives, they are idolized. In death, they become larger than life. Is there a special place for celebrities when they die? Do they hold a special status when they stand before God? In Psalms, God warns us about placing our confidence in people of influence, who seem to have no problems and picture-perfect lives.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day, their plans come to nothing” (Ps. 146:3–4).
Why is your confidence misplaced when you place it in a person of prominence or power? You are trusting a person susceptible to sickness, loneliness, emptiness, sin and sorrow. Actress Farrah Fawcett, for all her fame and fortune, could not escape the ravages of cancer. Jackson had a heart that beat just like yours and mine, as did the pitchman Billy Mays. There is no guarantee the heart of a famous person might not stop, and the same is true for you and me.
Celebrities can’t save you from the peril you face. They can’t even save themselves. When people die, princes or paupers, their spirit leaves their body, and that very day, all their plans come to an end. Jackson’s final tour never happened. The hit film “This Is It” is a testimony to the truth of God’s Word. Jackson will never be back. His spirit has departed. His body will become dust. His plans have come to an end. He will sing on the screen but never again on the stage. His life on this earth is finished. However, somewhere Jackson lives, either in heaven or hell.
Where do celebrities go when they die? Does it depend on their wealth or fame? No. It depends on their relationship to Jesus Christ. What about you? What will happen to you when you die? Your spirit will depart. Your body will become dust. That very day, all your plans will come to an end. But you will live somewhere. Will it be heaven or hell? It depends on your relationship to Jesus Christ.
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