Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to be invisible but suddenly something unexpected happened, and then everyone started to look at you? This moment, when it feels like a big light is above you enhancing every action you take, is called being in the spotlight! I am sure you have been in this situation before.
Everyone’s natural reaction is to avoid these situations. However, for some people it becomes a constant fear. Psychologists call this the “spotlight effect,” which describes the tendency to overestimate how much other people notice about you. “In other words, we tend to think there is a spotlight on us at all times, highlighting all of our mistakes or flaws, for all the world to see.”1
On the other hand there are people who develop an addiction to being in the spotlight, which is called fame. Psychologists agree that fame is a dangerous drug for humans. “Once fame hits, with its growing sense of isolation, mistrust, and lack of personal privacy, the person develops a kind of character-splitting between the ‘celebrity self’ and the ‘authentic self,’ as a survival technique in the hyperkinetic and heady atmosphere associated with celebrity life.”2
The Red Carpet
Once a person becomes trapped in the celebrity spiral and develops the need to look good in the spotlight, or while on the red carpet, it becomes an obsession and priority over any other need. Even though the time in the spotlight is always short it becomes the driving force behind the person’s existence and decision-making process.
We have seen Hollywood red carpet scenes, during which celebrities walk and pose for their fans and photographers to promote their latest movies. While on the red carpet they give interviews to tabloid magazines about their achievements while looking cool and attractive. They have worked hard to look their best during these glamorous appearances that last a few minutes.
I don’t think we can imagine Jesus attending one of these red carpet events to enjoy the glamorous display of celebrities. But in fact He did.
The book of Mark describes this red carpet situation: “Jesus sat down across from the place where people put their temple offerings. He watched the crowd putting their money into the offering boxes. Many rich people threw large amounts into them” (Mark 12:41, NIRV).
The temple’s offering chest was the “red carpet” in the Jewish community at that time. People would gather just to watch as “celebrities” walked with glamour to deposit their offerings. “Many of the rich brought large sums, which they presented with great ostentation.”3
The celebrities knew this was their moment in the spotlight and didn’t want to disappoint their fans and followers. They made a great spectacle during their short appearance.
Jesus’ disciples joined the expectant crowd admiring each celebrity taking their turn in the spotlight and delivering their offering with great ostentation, trying to look better than the previous one.
Unkind Celebrity
Jesus seemed observant at the event as He paid attention to the same place as everyone else. But in that same place there was a different spotlight. Jesus was attentive to this other spotlight that was brighter and had the power to illuminate what humans couldn’t see. It also had a much larger audience because this spotlight came directly from heaven.
Suddenly Jesus’ face lit up and He smiled! He had found what he was searching for on this red carpet! “He saw a poor widow approach hesitatingly, as though fearful of being observed. As the rich and haughty swept by, to deposit their offerings, she shrank back as if hardly daring to venture farther. And yet she longed to do something, little though it might be, for the cause she loved. She looked at the gift in her hand. It was very small in comparison with the gifts of those around her, yet it was her all. Watching her opportunity, she hurriedly threw in her two mites, and turned to hasten away. But in doing this she caught the eye of Jesus, which was fastened earnestly upon her.”4
The poor widow didn’t want to be in the spotlight, but that was the only way to give her offering. She planned to be unsuspecting, quiet, and fast. She didn’t know that the heavenly spotlight was on her from the beginning. All heaven was rooting for her. When the two mites she deposited touched the bottom of the chest, while no one else on earth even noticed, the celebration in heaven was greater than the one received by any famous celebrity.
The Two Spotlights
It was not by chance that Jesus brought His disciples to see the red carpet. Like everything Jesus did on earth, there was a purpose. I believe He wanted them to learn something important for the ministry they would later have to do, and the red carpet was the perfect place to do it.
The disciples had to understand that in our lives we are constantly having to decide between fitting in the expectations of the worldly or heavenly spotlight.
Jesus told His disciples: “But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you” (Matthew 6:33, NIRV).
From the beginning Jesus’ ministry was focused on teaching His disciples, and people in general, about God’s kingdom. His disciples had to understand that even though we live in this world our priority is to be part of God’s kingdom, which the heavenly spotlight focuses on.
Samuel and the Red Carpet
When the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint the new king of Israel to replace Saul, he experienced a red carpet situation. God told Samuel: “Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1, NIRV).
God didn’t tell Samuel which son was the selected one. This situation must have filled Samuel with great expectation and he surely created a compelling profile of what a future king should look like. Samuel created his red carpet requirements.
Samuel arrived to Bethlehem and announced: “‘Yes, I’ve come in peace. I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord. He invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He thought, ‘This has to be the one the Lord wants me to anoint for him’” (1 Samuel 16:5, 6, NIRV).
We don’t know details about Eliab’s appearance, but we do know that as soon as Samuel saw him on the red carpet, Eliab checked all the boxes on Samuel’s profile list. It wouldn’t be wrong to think that everyone else at that particular event was also impressed by Eliab’s look.
It seems that Samuel got so excited that he was ready to jump and anoint Eliab as the next king of Israel, when God stopped him and said: “Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the Lord looks at what is in the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIRV).
Samuel had to be reprimanded. He was focused on the worldly spotlight, almost falling for all the world glamour. God had to remind him that his mission was to be focused on the heavenly spotlight, which illuminates the person’s heart.
The Celebrity Dilemma
One day a “celebrity” approached Jesus. He was young, rich, and also a ruler. He had done everything to have fame. He was from an influential family, so he was well connected. He had worked on earning the proper academic credentials to be highly qualified. Surely he had worked at the right places to claim his position as a leader. And all this had paid off because now he was a celebrity. Surely he had walked on the red carpet and placed an offering in the chest with great ostentation. He was surely well established in the worldly spotlight.
However, he wasn’t happy. He had felt the call to be in the heavenly spotlight. So he searched for Jesus and asked: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16, NIRV).
Jesus answered: “Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me” (Mark 10:21, NIRV).
Jesus was telling the young ruler to get rid of everything that put him in the worldly spotlight, to not be a celebrity anymore, to not search for fame or glamour, but rather to become humble like a poor widow, and give everything to God without people noticing. Then he would be in the heavenly spotlight. What a difficult challenge for a celebrity accustomed to glamour and public attention.
Was Jesus’ offer worthy of throwing away what he had built for years to become a celebrity? Sadly his answer was “no.” In the end the young ruler left because his position, possessions, and place in the worldly spotlight was something he wasn’t willing to let go.
Jesus turned to his disciples and said: “How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom!” (Mark 10:23, NIRV).
How hard it is for people with an addiction to the worldly spotlight to change and be part of the heavenly spotlight!
Struck by the Spotlight
Saul (later called Paul) was another celebrity figure. He had earned all the necessary credentials to have his place in the religious worldly spotlight. Since he was not entirely happy, Saul decided to become a “hero” by working on exterminating Christianity. He was at such a high social level that religious leaders gave him the authority to hunt Christians. So Saul went into the hunt with the religious worldly spotlight strongly focused on him.
Little did Saul know that the heavenly spotlight was going to strike him so strongly that his life was going to change.
“On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus,’ he replied. ‘I am the one you are opposing. Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do’” (Acts 9:3-6, NIRV).
What a great struggle for Saul to experience the power of the heavenly spotlight, and face the One who can see the earth. Saul was asked to change his life completely, to stop being the hunter, and to become the hunted or the prey. After this encounter he became blind. The only thing he had was an internal turmoil to solve, so it’s no surprise that he couldn’t eat or drink for three days.
Switching Spotlights
“In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision. ‘Ananias!’ he said. ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered. The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again’” (Acts 9:10-12, NIRV).
This was a shocking call for Ananias. He knew Saul very well. He had seen him on the religious red carpet and was aware of his mission. Ananias was the prey the hunter was searching for. Ananias could not believe he was being sent to help Saul. And to make matters even worse, Jesus had already give Saul’s name to Ananias in vision! He couldn’t hide anymore.
Ananias felt the need to update Jesus on what was going on because this had to be a mistake.
“‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem. Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this’” (Acts 9:13, 14, NIRV).
Are you sure Lord? Saul belongs to the religious worldly spotlight, trying to get more fame by hunting us. What are You planning? Jesus answered: “Go! I have chosen this man to work for me” (Acts 9:15, NIRV).
After his powerful encounter with Jesus Saul was no longer red carpet material. After this initial struggle he accepted Jesus and his heart was changed. Now it belonged to the heavenly spotlight.
Ananias went to see Saul and did exactly as Jesus told him to do.
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:17, 18, NIRV).
Saul switched spotlights and became Paul.
Surrendering All
Paul abandoned the religious red carpet of his time and fully embraced being in the heavenly spotlight. While reflecting on his life Paul recognized that he was a celebrity on the religious red carpet and pointed out that if anyone had the religious credentials to be in the worldly spotlight, he had it all:
“I have many reasons to trust in who I am and what I have done. Someone else may think they have reasons to trust in these things. But I have even more. I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee. As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly” (Philippians 3:4-6, NIRV).
Only by understanding what God has to offer can we open our eyes and see that the red carpet doesn’t have value. As Paul concluded: “I thought things like that were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ” (Philippians 3:7, NIRV).
What a powerful testimony. Verse 7 could be paraphrased to say: “I thought that walking in the religious red carpet and being in the worldly spotlight was really something great. But now I consider that to be NOTHING because of Christ.”
Spotlight Selection
The Bible is full of stories about humans choosing to be in one spotlight or the other. It is also a reminder of the constant invitation from God to leave what this world offers and be a part of God’s kingdom.
Life would be easy if the worldly spotlight and the heavenly spotlight were distant from each other in a way that we could clearly differentiate the one guiding our lives. But they often point to the same spot. Only you and God know which one is thriving in your life because He can see you heart.
God knows your actions and plans. He knows if what you are planning, executing, and gaining is in search of the fame the red carpet offers. He knows if you are a spotlight addict who enjoys the benefits, position, leadership, and glamour offered to you because other people get enchanted by your celebrity image and open the doors toward worldly success. God is calling you to leave that behind, follow Him, and let Him show you what to do.
God also knows when you are trying to avoid being noticed by keeping quiet, being shy and careful for others to not see you work. God knows the struggles you are facing when it seems like the little work you do doesn’t look like much compared with the celebrities and their presentations shown with great ostentation. He sees the embarrassment you feel when you think that you have little to give and would like to offer more. But God knows that you are giving it with all you heart and is looking at you with a big smile.
“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:43, 44, NIV).
“The rich had bestowed from their abundance, many of them to be seen and honored by men. Their large donations had deprived them of no comfort, or even luxury; they had required no sacrifice, and could not be compared in value with the widow’s mite.”5
God is calling. Let the heavenly spotlight shine on you!
Copyright Italo Osorio 2022
- https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-spotlight-effect-3024470
- https://www.psychalive.org/fame-is-a-dangerous-drug-a-phenomenological-glimpse-of-celebrity/
- Counsels on Stewardship, p. 174 (https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/22.1028).
- Counsels on Stewardship, p. 174 (https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/22.1028).
- Counsels on Stewardship, p. 175 (https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/22.1028).
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