The headlines screamed of a major tragedy! It was bad and might get worse. In the old days they would have said “Stop the presses” indicating the headlines would be replaced, but the story had already taken over cable and network news and the internet. Had we been attacked or were masses of people dying? Maybe it was another gut-punch to our economy? All that is going on, but that wasn’t what made the world come to a halt. The Headlines told us “Tiger Woods injured in a car crash.” Seriously! I hope he is OK, but is that it?
Listening to the news accounts, you would think it was that serious! Celebrities lined up wish him well and lend support. One news commentator said “I’m not surprised” and was surprised at the condemnation he received. I turned on my favorite news commentary show “The Five” and discovered the entire show was dedicated to the accident. One member suggested the accident doesn’t deserve that much attention, but he was overruled by the other hosts.
I’m not kicking Tiger Woods when he is down, but trying to provide some perspective. Yes I realize he is a world-famous sports figure, whose amazing skills and nerves of steel helped him overcome insurmountable odds to get to where he is today, but he is still just a golfer. Tiger’s story isn’t all good and mixed in with the people’s concern, were accounts of his flaws and scandals. I am glad he escaped death and I hope he fully recovers, but what about the rest of the world? They don’t have his fame and fortune to help them out. They don’t even have the news headlines to tell the world of their plight and most won’t recover from their tragedy.
Yes, the world is full of tragic news, but even JESUS said “ye have the poor with you always” (Mark 14:7 KJV). JESUS didn’t give us an excuse to not help the poor, but was saying what He was doing was more important! JESUS was about to die for our sins and that took priority. He should have been in the “Headlines” of the day, but less important stories were given His place. Not much has changed since then, except the numbers of the lost and dying.
What do you mean more people are “lost and dying?” That can’t be true with the advances in medical science and safety has become a priority in the modern world. I don’t see anything in the news about mass casualties. That is exactly the problem! 150,000 people are dying (worldwide) each day and most are on their way to Hell. Why isn’t that the headlines in every newscast and all across the internet? Why is it the same in the Church? The scandal is, they are talking about relaxing, finding yourself and enjoying life while the world and much of the Church is literally going to Hell! Why waste so much time arguing over doctrinal points, when the world ended today for so many and the same will happen again tomorrow? They are beyond our reach now and many left without hearing the basic Gospel message. Shame on us!
GOD did His part when “he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). After JESUS died on the cross and rose from the dead, He told us “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 KJV). With so many people’s salvation depending on that message, why is it not the “trending story,” “hot topic of conversation” or the Headlines? Let’s change that!
Wayne Lance