The Lakes Evangelical Church

Michael Jackson the legacy

Posted on 29. Jun, 2009 by Dave Sheath in Blog

Go to iTunes top 10 singles this week and what tops the list?  “Man in the mirror” by Michael Jackson.  The last time that song was number one was the year I started uni way back in 1988!   Remember some of the other great songs of that year?

• “I Should Be So Lucky” – Kylie Minogue
• “Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car” – Billy Ocean
• “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin
• “Never Gonna Give You Up” – Rick Astley
• “Simply Irresistible” – Robert Palmer

You have to say it was the golden age of pop music and Michael Jackson was king.

The first Michael Jackson hit I remember was “Blame it on the Boogie”.  That was during the Jackson 5 era was back in ’78.  But “Man in the Mirror” is my all time favourite.  I actually love the a cappella remix by “The Idea of North”.  The words are actually quite profound.  Here is how the chorus goes:

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

The song is spot on isn’t it!  We whinge and complain about what’s wrong with the world, but change starts with us.  If we can’t change ourselves and our own attitudes then what right have we got to stand in judgment on others.

No doubt Michael Jackson wanted to make the world a better place.  But sadly, he fell short in so many ways.  He was so extraordinary and tragic at the same time and he will be remembered with mixed emotions.

What will be our legacy?  God says that, as much as we try to make the changes to ourselves, our efforts will only prove futile and tragic.  God says that the sort of change needed is only something that can be performed by the work of his Spirit.  So Paul contrasts our sinful nature with the work of his Spirit in us:

¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:19-23)

Jesus’ brother James speaks about “the man in the mirror”.  He compares him to the person who hears God’s word and fails to take it to heart:

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.  (James 1:22-25)

So Michael Jackson was right.  Change does start with the man in the mirror.  But he didn’t go on to explain that the change is something that only God can bring about through his Spirit and his Word changing our hearts.

The image on this page comes from Michael Jackson’s music website.  What is your favourite Michael Jackson song?  Let me know in the comments below…