By Rance Settle, Senior Pastor, Lamb of God Lutheran Church
A friend of mine once met a celebrity in the mall. She noticed two men standing guard near a familiar looking blonde wearing a ballcap and sunglasses. She knew it had to be Taylor Swift.
Playing it cool, she pretended to look at the same clothing rack as Swift was and said, “I know you don’t want anyone to know you’re Taylor Swift. I just wanted to come over and say I’m a big fan and I wish you every success.” To her surprise, my friend got a ‘thank you’ and an autograph. She was floating on Cloud 9 for a week!
What is it about being in the presence of celebrities that makes us gush and get filled with excitement? If John Wayne were alive and invited me to lunch, you can bet I’d be on Cloud 9 for a long time!
We all long to be around something greater than ourselves. To connect with celebrity and fame for just a moment makes us feel better just by being around it – like we matter – like we have a purpose.
That’s why, amid Hollywood signs, limos and flashing cameras, it’s easy to miss it when God comes near to us. He didn’t choose a castle, kings and chariots. He chose a backwater town called Bethlehem, unassuming parents and a feedbox as His crib. “…He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2b) God chose the humble to draw near to humanity and save mankind from their sins.
Through Jesus, we connect with our Creator. We’re in the Presence of Someone greater than ourselves. We’re better just by being around Him. God Himself tells us in His Word that we are important – we matter – we have a purpose – we are forgiven in Christ. That’s more than ‘Cloud 9’.
By faith in Him, it’s a backstage pass to the new heavens and new earth with Him!
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