Whitney, a Vessel for God
February 20, 2012 
4 Comments
The world went to church this past Saturday as more than 14 million people tuned into Whitney Houston’s home-going service (funeral) which was broadcasted worldwide on many major networks. The name of Jesus is rarely (if ever) spoken on many of these secular networks, but not this day. This day the name of Jesus; His message of love and salvation for all would reach into the living rooms of many that tuned in to celebrate Whitney’s life.
Whether you were or were not a fan of Whitney, frowned on her public struggle with drugs and alcohol or didn’t care either way are all irrelevant. Something significant happened on Saturday–the world went to church and Whitney was the vessel that God used to make it happen.
Whitney loved the Lord and used her celebrity to proclaim His goodness while she was alive, in the midst (and in spite) of her success, failures and struggles. In her death, she brought the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the lives of millions that tuned in, many of whom would have never heard this powerful message had it not been for her funeral service. Tweets of #salvationisfree started trending worldwide after Pastor Marvin Winans delivered his sermon where he rightly stated “salvation is free, but it ain’t cheap.”
God reminded me of an important lesson Saturday. We’re so quick to focus on the negative side of a situation and even a person, but we must always remember that what Satan intends for evil, God will always turn it around and use it for good, for His glory and for the benefit of His children.
Romans 8:28-29: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Whitney’s passing teaches another valuable lesson–tomorrow is not promised. How long will you put off accepting Jesus into your life? The lyrics of the Winans song “Tomorrow”, sang at her service, aptly capture the significance of making that commitment today.
“Jesus said Here I stand, Won’t you please let me in, And you said I will tomorrow, Jesus said I am he, Who supplies all your needs, And you said I know but tomorrow, Tomorrow, I’ll give my life tomorrow, I thought about today, But it’s so much easier to say: Tomorrow, Who promised you tomorrow, Better choose the Lord today, For tomorrow very well might be today”
There’s no doubt in my mind that many lives were positively affected through Whitney’s funeral service and I’m sure that many viewers renewed their commitment to God or gave their life to Him for the first time. In his sermon Marvin Winans said “God had a purpose before he ever created a person.” God had a purpose for Whitney’s life and in spite of its bittersweet events and turmoil, Whitney’s life made a difference.
Source of Photo: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/whitney-houston-death-funeral-coverage-292380
Amen sister, God works in mysterious ways
As I read this article, one scripture came up inside of me. That was 1 Chorianthians 1:27…wow…How Great was that, Thank you God for revealing this to me.
so true lowsl–in spite of her difficulties, she always said that Jesus was her strength publicly..she always talked about how much she loved the Lord–so rare to hear in Hollywood. People may focus on the negatives but in many ways,she was a vessel for Jesus’ love to be proclaimed.
Thanks Vi—1 Corinthians 1:27:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.