Michael Jackson

Like many others, I've been asked to weigh in on the death of Michael Jackson. The strongest message that comes to me through all of this has to do with something he recently said. I believe the most poignant words about his life are his own words to a Jewish Rabbi who had recently spent time with Michael in preparation for a book he was going to write about the entertainer's life. (You can read the article at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1245924935526&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull)

In an article in The Jerusalem Post yesterday, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote the following words about Michael Jackson:

I will never forget what he said when we sat down to record 40 hours of conversations where he would finally reveal himself for a book I authored. He turned to me and said these haunting words: "I am going to say something I have never said before and this is the truth. I have no reason to lie to you and God knows I am telling the truth. I think all my success and fame, and I have wanted it, I have wanted it because I wanted to be loved. That's all. That's the real truth. I wanted people to love me, truly love me, because I never really felt loved. I said I know I have an ability. Maybe if I sharpened my craft, maybe people will love me more. I just wanted to be loved because I think it is very important to be loved and to tell people that you love them and to look in their eyes and say it."

With all the talk about the life he lived and the death he died, the above quote from Michael Jackson may be the most important admission of his life. What does that say to the rest of us? It reminds us of the opportunity we have to love people with the authentic love of Jesus Christ. Where Michael Jackson stood spiritually, I don't know. I do know that he was a man in search of love. There are many others like him among those who are famous, those who are infamous and those who fit neither category.

There's a line in the sand with religion on one side and Jesus Christ on the other. Religion harshly judges the people that Jesus loves. I want to spend the rest of my life being on the right side of the line, don't you? Who knows what difference you will make in somebody's life if you do.