You Don’t Have to Be a Star, Baby

“You don’t have to be a star, baby, to be in my show.” Did I just date myself? Thanks, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. – you’re making me look a little ancient here!

In all earnestness, friends, it has never been more apparent to me that I am not the star of the show. The universe does not revolve around me, and I am not the hero of the story. For goodness’ sake, I’m not even the hero of my own little story here in my own little corner of the world. No hero status for me. Nope. None. Never.

Psalm 103:14-16 issues the truthful verdict. I am just dust – yes, you read that right – and my entire life is like the grass that flourishes and flowers today, but tomorrow that grass is gone (a rather apropos word picture for the first day of spring, when folks in Middle Tennessee are already mowing). You and I have our moment on the stage of life, but it’s just that – it’s a brief moment. And, while we’re here, we need the strength of the One who gave us life and called us to be His own.

When the Lord promised Joshua, “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5), He was telling Moses’ successor all that he would ever really need to know. The way forward, as both a leader and a follower, would not be easy for this man, and courage and perseverance would be required on his part – but General Joshua would never walk alone. Never. The same goes for those of us who are trusting in Jesus Christ – those of us who are, literally, in Christ. You and I never walk alone. Never.

Our God is with us – He’s always with us (Isaiah 41:10; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 1:23)! Knowing that, believing that, and remembering that is the key to not thinking more of ourselves than we should. The Bible refers to that kind of humility as “sober judgment” (Romans 12:3), and it tends to be in short supply in my soul when I’m not focused on God’s truth.

But, when I am focused on God’s truth, I’m perfectly content not to be the star of the show! In fact, that truth is deeply comforting. Our God is, after all, the beginning, the end, and everything in between. The created order shouts His praise. The arc of human history bends toward His sovereign grace. All of time and eternity marches toward His matchless glory! That this great God would walk with me – dust – even for a moment, ought to blow my mind. And that He would condescend to keep walking with me – forever – ought to capture my wonder for the rest of my days.

Few people on earth have lived out a broader or more self-sacrificial vision for global evangelism than Hudson Taylor, the British missionary who labored for 54 years in China for the cause of Christ. We in the contemporary church tend to look back on such a legacy with deep admiration, as we should, but you might be interested to know that Hudson Taylor wasn’t the least bit impressed with himself. These are Taylor’s own words: “It seemed to me like God looked over the whole world to find a man who was weak enough to do His work, and when He at last found me, He said, ‘He is weak enough – he’ll do.’ All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.”

I think Taylor was absolutely right. In the kingdom of God, weakness is a badge of honor – when it lifts our eyes off us. “They reckoned on His being with them!” God’s being with them was enough. Is it enough for us? Is it more than enough for us?

“God with us” is a diamond in our gospel treasure chest. Whatever we’re facing today, we face with a heavenly army by our side. Whatever we’ll face tomorrow, our God is already there to part the waters for our safe passage. The glory belongs to Him, and to Him alone, and not to any one of us dust bunnies. The glory is all the Lord’s. You and I don’t emanate Christ’s glory – we merely reflect it.

I am not the star. I am so not the star. Neither are you. As it should be. The Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) is rightly and eternally center stage. To Christ alone be glory!

Pastor Charles