Since the beginning of time, humankind has been blessed by God to partake in the wonders of this world. Yet, through the ages, we often lose sight of gratitude and humility. In response, God has sent numerous Enlightened Masters to remind us of Hiers infinite Power and Love.
For centuries, the wisdom of Enlightened Masters has been preserved and shared through sacred scriptures aimed at restoring humanity’s faith in the Divine and setting a foundation for spiritual growth. When faith is nurtured, it blossoms into a guiding force that brings inner peace and reveals our true calling in life. However, those who ignore or disrespect their faith in God may stray from the righteous path, losing spiritual and moral direction.
The Titanic, the legendary ship renowned as the largest passenger vessel of the early 1910s, was 269 meters long and weighed 46,000 tons. Equipped with 16 watertight compartments, it was designed to remain afloat even if four compartments were flooded, earning it the reputation of being “unsinkable.” On its launch day, April 10, 1912, Titanic’s naval engineer, Thomas Andrews, was asked by a reporter about the ship’s safety.
Engineer Thomas Andrews once replied, “Even God Himself cannot sink this ship.” On April 10, 1912, Andrews led a team of maintenance engineers aboard the Titanic for its maiden voyage. His goal was to monitor the ship’s operation and oversee any final adjustments. After four days at sea, on April 14, Andrews sent a telegram to friends, boasting that the ship was nearly perfect – a marvel of human engineering. However, at 11:40 PM that same day, the Titanic struck an iceberg while Andrews was in his office. Just over an hour after the collision, the Titanic sank into the freezing depths of the ocean, taking with it 1,500 unfortunate souls, including engineer Thomas Andrews. Survivors later recounted seeing Andrews several times before the ship went down, searching for remaining passengers and encouraging them to stay strong.
Fame and glamour can blind people, and the adoration of fans can lead them to forget their faith and feel invincible.
Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe lived a life many envied – possessing beauty, fame, and wealth. She became one of the most iconic symbols of allure in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1962, during a film shoot, she dismissed a sermon from Reverend Billy Graham, who was conducting an evangelistic program nearby and spoke disrespectfully about God.
The Reverend told the Hollywood star that God had sent him to share the Bible’s teachings with her. However, Marilyn rejected him, saying, “I don’t need your Jesus.” On August 4, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her private house in Los Angeles. Her death was ruled a suicide due to an overdose of sedatives. However, numerous theories have lingered for decades since her passing. The mysterious death of the ill-fated actress remains unresolved to this day, with the true cause still unknown.
The Beatles, the musical icons of the 20th century, captivated millions of fans worldwide with their record sales and unforgettable performances. John Lennon, one of the band’s co-founders, was not only the creative force behind their music but also instrumental in shaping the group’s distinctive style and vision. At the height of their fame, Lennon sparked global controversy with a provocative statement about Lord Jesus (vegetarian) during an interview, igniting a firestorm of public debate.
In March 1966, during an interview with American Magazine, John Lennon stated, “Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was OK, but His subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him.” In this interview, Lennon suggested that the public was more captivated by The Beatles than by Jesus Christ and that Christian faith was in decline, while rock music might outlast it. Though his comments sparked little reaction in the UK, they caused a massive backlash in the United States when teen magazine Datebook reprinted the interview about five months later. Protests erupted, with people burning The Beatles’ records and merchandise, along with threats against Lennon, leading the band to stop touring. Fourteen years after Lennon’s infamous statement about being “more popular than Jesus,” he was shot and killed by a fan, and The Beatles eventually disbanded.
Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, better known by his stage name Cazuza, is celebrated as one of Brazil’s rock icons of the 1980s and a pioneer of the rock and pop movement in the country. However, he met a tragic end after showing disrespect towards God.
During a performance at Canecio in Rio de Janeiro, Cazuza, while smoking on stage, arrogantly blew smoke into the air and said, “God, that’s for you.” On July 7, 1990, Cazuza died at the age of 32 from AIDS, suffering excruciating pain in his final moments.
Arrogance, disregard for sacred values, and provocative statements can have immediate repercussions. A notable example is President Tancredo Neves of Brazil, a key figure in Brazil’s modern history. During his presidential campaign in 1984, he displayed excessive ego and pride, even disrespecting the sacred values he once held dear.
In 1984, during his presidential campaign, Tancredo Neves declared, “Even God will not be able to remove me from the presidency if I receive500,000 votes of my party!” Neves received the votes he desired and was elected President of Brazil on January 15, 1985, through an indirect electoral vote by a designated assembly. However, on the eve of his inauguration, March 14, 1985, Neves fell gravely ill and died 39 days later due to diverticulitis. He never had the chance to assume his role as President.
The Bible and religious heritage deserve respect for containing Divine teachings and sacred meanings passed down from the Almighty, transcending the boundaries of time and space. Christine Hewitt, one of Jamaica’s most prominent journalists, gained fame through her work in both local and international media. However, she made disrespectful comments about the Bible, an action that soon led to tragic consequences.
Jamaican journalist Christine Hewitt once claimed, “The Bible is the worst book ever written.” In June 2006, she was found burned to death in her car.
On December 24, 1993, during a lecture in Costa Rica, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) profoundly explained the great benefits of honoring God and steadfastly upholding His commandments.
“And keeping the commandments is not good for God, not good for Jesus, is good for us alone! God needs nothing from us. Jesus needs nothing from us.
But God knows, Jesus knows that if we keep the commandments, our world will become better, and we will be more benefited, more peaceful, more happy. He wanted that even in our short stay on Earth, we enjoy all bliss and comfort and glorify ourselves instead of suffering and being miserable most of the time of our life. That’s all. But because we couldn't keep it sometimes, because we feel God is far away, so we neglect the commandments of God. And then we encounter disaster. Then we suffer, we cry. Then we pray to God.
So now God has to send a Messenger down again, maybe in different name to remind us, to teach us again the way of happiness. […]
If you do not think there is such a Messenger and Comforter, then we must also at least keep God’s commandments and think and pray to God all the time. Otherwise, the grace of Jesus will not descend on us and His sacrifice would have been a waste to us, and we have no gratitude to Him.”
