Friday, July 3, 2009

Lisa Stansfield had millions singing “Been around the world and I, I, I, I can't find my baby”. The hook hooked you indeed. So many people are looking for happiness….If I can just find that women….If I can only find the right man….If I could get that car….that job…..the house….one more drug…one more drinka baby….so and so would get saved…..then I’ll be alright.

Michael Jackson’s life and death is a testimony to trying to find happiness. Hear is a young boy, that basically never grew up. He achieved superstar status, before puberty…going on to make more money than most people could imagine. Yet, at the point of his death….he owned very little, owed more. A man who could make ladies faint, was not happy. The guy who built an amusement park in his backyard, was not amused. He literally traveled to every corner of the world….not finding what he was looking for. “If you aim at nothing….you will hit it….”

Many people question is “unusual behavior”, but looking and listening at his music, I see a little boy with an amazing imagination, that sometimes when too far. Videos like “Remember the Time”, “Thriller”, whatever that earth song was….that stuff was amazing! Michael had vision well beyond the average person. He was truly a gifted man….but unhappy.

The answer is really simple…so simple I think we overlook it. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy can only be find in the presence of God. You can look for it in a person, in an activity, but you will never find it there. My pastor pointed out once that “happiness” contains “happ” as in “happens”….it is a temporary state based on temporary things. Jesus said it best "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full"(John 15:11).

So quit looking for something you already have.