Warning! Do NOT try this at home!

I never listened to any of Amy Winehouse's music.  But, I understand that she was quite talented.  Her family, friends and fans are still reeling from her sudden death and my prayers go out to all of them.

I also pray that all of us--whether we listened to her music or not--heed the warning that was clearly evident in her self-destructive lifestyle, the same warning bell that sounded off through the lives of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, and an exhaustive list of other celebrities.

Most news stories about Winehouse's death center on her age, which eerily matches that of other musicians who lived and died from similar excessive, reckless lifestyles.  However, in focusing on her age at death, we risk missing the wider and more broad-reaching warning that has been ringing throughout the ages.

That warning is against making fame, fortune or free will our gods.  It is only when we remain anchored and centered in the true and living God that we have the proper perspective on fame, fortune, and free will.  These are not inherently bad things, but without God, they will have us believing we are invincible and answer to no one.

Without God's Holy Spirit leading and guiding us into all truth, we will believe the lie that we can abuse our minds, bodies and spirits with intoxicating substances, unlimited sexual partners, and do whatever else we crave to excess.

The celebrities whom we watch succumb to that lie actually mirror what some of us or our children are either already doing or secretly craving to do at home.

Sure, we love the Lord, but some of us have never outgrown the desire to "party like a rock star." Sadly, we don't even realize that the hand sign that is displayed for "rock" is essentially the silhouette of the goat-like figure associated with the devil.

We stubbornly refuse to deal with the reality that things like illicit sex and drugs create emotional and spiritual strongholds on us, sometimes long before they take their toll on our physical bodies. 

In 1 Corinthians 10 the Bible explains how our ancestors worshipped idols, did shameful sexual things and grumbled against the Lord.  These actions all lead to their deaths. In verse 11, we find that "These things happened to them as a warning to us.  All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days" (Contemporary English Version).

Just because the media often promotes celebrity excesses, or even though we may have members in our own family who live recklessly and appear to get away with it, we must heed the warning and NOT follow in their footsteps. 
To put it more plainly, "Warning!  Do NOT try this at home!"

We have to be careful about what we allow into our home--into our personal space.  When we are out "partying like a rock star" with our tongues hanging out and hand signs thrust in the air, who are we pledging allegiance to?  Who are we welcoming into our hearts, minds and homes?  It just might be an idol.

Some of us think we can handle a little of this or a little of that.  However, 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us, "Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall."  Think about it. How many times have we or someone else said, "one thing just led to another and...the next thing you know...." when we are trying to figure out how things got so out of control.

We are not to be envious of or overly enamored by celebrities or people we know who appear to live the secular definition of  the "good life" while we sometimes suffer for doing good.  Read Psalm 73 for inspiration to hold on when it seems that others are prospering for the wrong reasons.

Verse 27 of Psalm 73 provides a powerful reminder of why it pays to stand firm:  "Powerful God, all who stay far from you will be lost, and you will destroy those who are unfaithful.  It is good for me to be near you.  I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about your wonderful deeds."

Please.  Let's heed the repeated warnings.  And, let's love our friends and family enough to tell them about God's wonderful deeds--especially sending Jesus Christ as our provision for eternal life--and tell them that when it comes to some of the things society tries to tempt them with, they should NOT try them at home.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen