I just got done watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson.

Whether you like the guy or not, one can’t deny his unbelievable career. He probably will forever be remembered as the greatest entertainer to ever live. I’ve been amazed at the wide variety of comments made about him just in the last week since his death. Many, including myself, have probably been a little too judgmental about him. Others have talked about his innocence. Many have discussed whether or not he is in heaven… among other things.

I think the best quote I read was one that stated, “The King of Pop now stands before the King of Glory.” That makes you think, doesn’t it?

I’m not going to sit here and say whether or not I think Michael is in heaven or hell. But I will say this: no matter how amazing you are, no matter how popular you are, no matter what you’ve accomplished in your life…. one day, you WILL stand before the Creator of this world. Millions and millions of people have had the same thoughts this past week… “How could this happen to Michael?” But the thing is, you cannot escape death. It is going to happen to you. Maybe when you’re 95 years old… maybe tomorrow. You just never know. And when that day comes, will you be ready?

Michael’s comeback tour was already sold out. An unbelievable amount of people wanted to attend. But as I’ve also read just recently, Michael is now standing before the only audience that really matters. I know Michael changed the world for the better. He gave and gave, and gave some more. He wrote songs that changed lives. This world was a better place because of him. I truly hope he accepted Christ, for the Bible says that’s your only ticket to heaven. Good works don’t do it… writing great songs doesn’t do it… giving to charities doesn’t do it… being loved by many doesn’t do it. It’s only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord that you may enter life, that is truly life in heaven. That grace is also the same grace that frees us from our failures. Michael Jackson had a lot of failures… but who hasn’t? I wonder if you were in the spotlight as much as him, who all would know about the things you or I have done? For Michael, though, his life is now complete. There’s no other chance for him to accept Jesus as his Lord if he hasn’t already done so. But there is time for everyone else still living in this world.

I believe that my God will do whatever it takes to bring people back to him. Maybe it takes a wake-up call, like the death of a legend, for some to fully realize no one is going to live forever. No one is bigger than God. Maybe some of these millions of people who have thought of nothing but Michael Jackson in the last week will now fix their eyes upon Jesus.

The Jackson family and my family have something very much in common. Death runs in each of our families. It runs in your family as well. I don’t have to wait until the day I leave this earth to bow down to the King of Glory when it might be too late. I have the freedom, the joy, and the honor to do it right now. Today, tomorrow, and every day after that until I’m with my Savior for all eternity.