I am not a huge fan of TV. Oh, I used to be. Over the past 30 years I have spent countless of hours watching Sesame Street, Leave it to Beaver, Family Ties, Saved by the Bell (seriously), Seinfeld and many, many more programs. Not really the case any more. I’m not sure if it’s maturity or having 4 kids, or some combination of the two, but TV is not really a priority in my life. At least not like it has been in the past.
That said, I would not have missed the 2010 finale of American Idol that aired this week. Despite cutting back on TV over the past 7-8 years, I am a sucker for things that feel historic, even if only trivially. So naming the 2010 winner of the competition, coupled with saying goodbye to Simon Cowell was too good to pass up.
And as outstanding as it was to watch General Larry Platt and William Hung performing “Pants on the Ground” together, I was most struck watching winner Lee DeWyze named the “Idol” for this year. If you care enough to read this far you might know Lee’s story. Last year he was working in a paint store near Chicago, and today he is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. Regardless of how his career progresses, it is probably safe to assume that his life has changed permanently. You can watch Lee’s moment here.
This whole scene brought to mind a passage that applies to all of us who desire to leave a godly legacy. Exodus 20:4-5 is outlining one of the 10 Commandments as it reads,
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form
of anything in heaven above or on the earth below or in the
waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I,
the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin
of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but
showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and
keep my commandments.
Two things come to mind right away from those verses: first, God alone is worthy of worship. I don’t think anyone at American Idol really intends for us to worship Lee DeWyze, but I know there are all kinds of distractions in my life that can take my eyes off of Christ. He alone is deserving of my undying affection.
The second point is about leaving a legacy. I am happy for Lee DeWyze. He’s a talented dude who has a lot to celebrate. For the rest of his life, at least some people will remember what happened to him this week. It might even end up making a difference in the lives of his children and grandchildren, if he ever has any. That’s not a bad deal at all. But we have an even better deal. Loving God and keeping his commandments results in God showing love to 1000 generations of our descendants. That’s a pretty good deal.
Of course, keeping God’s commandments is a result of a growing, healthy relationship with Him. It won’t happen by our trying really hard. We’ve covered this point often. But I think the idea of that kind of legacy is a pretty sweet motivator when it comes to being intentional to spend time growing closer to Jesus.
80’s Lyric
– Wham! (1984)