Both on One Plane
People are judged based on appearances in this world: they will be judged according to realities in the next world. If someone works for fame, he will have nothing but ignominy to look forward to when he comes before God.
On March 31, 1981, the main story in newspapers worldwide was the assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan. A youth named John Hinckley had fired six shots at the President in two seconds with an automatic pistol. One bullet had entered his chest and settled in his lung. Before he reached the hospital, he had lost half his body’s blood. However, emergency treatment came to his assistance, and his life was saved.
Before long, the President was on the way to recovery and chatting with the doctors and nurses in his hospital ward. He recalled his early career as a film star, in which he had never achieved great fame. He made one of the remarks in this connection: “If I had this much attention in Hollywood, I would have stayed there.” (Time Magazine, April 13, 1981)
Why did John Hinckley commit this deed? He was in love with a young actress named Jodie Foster. He had written to her repeatedly but had received no response. Eventually, one day before he attacked President Reagan, he wrote to her: “Now you will know who I am.”
The next day, this unknown youth had made headlines worldwide; he had become big news; his name could be heard on radio and television. He had achieved more fame by pulling a trigger than others do after a lifetime of effort.
Hinckley was a would-be assassin, and Ronald Reagan was his victim; but in as much as both were after fame, both were the same. One person may seem a criminal and another innocent, but they live on the same plane if both seek worldly gain. People are judged on appearances in this world: they will be judged according to realities in the next world. No matter what an individual is doing on earth, whether his efforts seem to be directed towards a noble or an ignoble end, if he is working for fame, then he will have nothing but ignominy to look forward to when he comes before God.
