Our fan-club culture

Bible verse:
"He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.'" (John 1: 19-28)

Inspiration:
The Associated Press has just posted on the Internet an article in which it pays homage to a list of famous people who died during the past year. The profiles include soldiers, statesmen, dictators, politicians, athletes, scientists, authors, filmmakers, celebrities, singers, human rights activists and members of the clergy. Their average age at death was 80. Despite their long and illustrious lives, I scarcely recognize many of the names, much less what they did, and this is within one year of their demise.

Yet, I can instantly recall a figure from the distant past, a firebrand of a man, raised in a backwater of civilization where he spent much of his time in obscurity, wandering in the wilderness, cloaked in a camel-hair tunic, surviving on locusts and honey. His polarizing personality led to his beheading in his early 30s and, as a result, he should have become a mere footnote in the history of his times.

How is it that John the Baptist is so well known and admired today?

It sure wasn’t because he sugarcoated his message; he called his followers sinners and urged them to repent and be saved. When challenged by the authorities and asked if he was the Christ or Elijah, he didn’t consult a media maven; he didn’t become evasive; he said flat out that he wasn’t. After his followers started deserting him for Jesus, he didn’t protest; instead, he said he wasn’t worthy to untie the thongs on Jesus’ sandals.

John the Baptist, the Precursor of Truth, told it like it is.

He was a counter-cultural rebel. In an era when “might made right,” he disdained power. At a time when slavery was commonplace, he embodied the ideal of a servant leader. As a servant, he worked to humbly prepare others for the coming of the Messiah. As a leader, he set an example by boldly declaring the truth.

We remember John because he was so close to Jesus in time, in place, in spirit.

In our fan-club culture where personality sometimes counts for more than character, and notoriety passes for  success, we need more counter-cultural heroes like John.  He stood out because he stood up for what he believed in. He was so true to his mission that history knows him simply by his nickname, the "Baptist." Such singularly enduring fame is accorded to very few, but all of us have been given the same basic mission as John. We are all called to be servant leaders and bring others to Christ.

If we pay homage to our Lord and Savior and make straight His path, our deeds  may not be recorded by the Associated Press, but they will be recorded in the Book of Life.

Verse of the Day is available as a free web service from BibleGateway.com Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.