After the Wednesday night service, people do not linger in the sanctuary for very long anymore. In the parking lot, car doors slam and tires squeal as they race home to watch the popular new television series called "Empire."
We love to watch and listen as Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, among others, bring to life a man and his family seeking to build an empire and willing to do anything, and I mean anything, to achieve it. And though this is a new series, it is an old, old story. In fact, it is as old as the Bible itself.
Men have always tried to build their empires. On the plain of Shinar, men tried to build a tower to reach up into heaven and "make a name" (Genesis 11:3). Pharaoh kept the people of God in slavery for four generations to build his pyramids (Exodus 1:11). King Nebuchadnezzar built an image of gold "sixty cubits high" and made the people of his empire bow down to worship it (Daniel 3).
Herod killed all the babies in Bethlehem to protect himself from any threat to his power (Matthew 2:16). Pontius Pilate did not see Jesus as a threat, but nonetheless sent "the King of the Jews" to a Roman execution to satisfy the political forces of his day (John 19).
When we watch "Empire" and hear the musical performances, we should also hear a different sound. We should hear the bricks tumble and fall on the plain of Shinar, and the confusion of babbling chaos resulting from the judgment of God (Genesis 11:8). We should hear the screams of Pharaoh and his army as the wall of water crashes down upon his crown (Exodus 14:28). We should hear the fingernails of Nebuchadnezzar scrape along the stony ground because he has been reduced to living as a wild beast (Daniel 4:33).
We should hear the last gasping breath of King Herod who died and no one mourned, and the sound that Pontius Pilate made when he committed suicide in exile from power. But most of all, we should hear the words of Jesus when he said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
Though few of us are seeking to build an empire, we are all building something. Are we so busy trying to "make a name" that we have forsaken our families and forgotten our faith? Are we chasing after money and losing "true riches?" (Luke 16:11). Are we building a monument or a ministry?
Are we trading our time, talent and treasure for what really matters and will never fade away? Or are we building up personal little "kingdoms" that will crumble like dust and disappear?
Most of us never achieve an empire, but we still trade away our souls for cheap thrills and momentary happiness when we could be building for something that will last forever.
When we watch "Empire" on our viewing screens, we should keep another view in mind. The view of our lives in the shadow of eternity.
Kevin Adams is pastor at Olivet Baptist Church.