By David Ettinger
Celebrity Crush
Famous people die every day, but this one really hurts.
Olivia Newton-John lost her decades’-long battle with cancer and left this world at age 73.
I grew up as a child-teenager of the 1960s-1970s, and Olivia was one the 3 celebrity crushes of my upper teen years (the other two were Dorothy Hamill and Cheryl Ladd). But Olivia was the most beautiful of them.
I remember seeing her for the first time on the 1975 TV show, “The Midnight Special,” which featured rock, pop, and soul stars of the time performing their hits live. In those pre-YouTube days, it was one of the few ways to see what these music stars looked like (with the exception of their albums).
On that particular night, Olivia sang her hit, “Have You Never Been Mellow.” I don’t remember the performance (though I can watch it now on YouTube), but I do remember my mom saying something to the effect of, “Okay, David, you can put your eyes back in your head now.”
An Interested Onlooker
Outside of Olivia’s beauty, I can’t really say I was a fan of hers, though I’m pretty familiar with her biggest hits, and of course her iconic turn in the movie “Grease.” In essence, I was an interested onlooker when it came to Olivia Newton-John’s career.
I know that Olivia had the reputation of being one of the nicest superstars in show biz, and how much she loved her fans, and how much her fans loved her. I also know that she had been fighting cancer courageously for the past 30 years.
She was a kind, decent, and brave celebrity, and was admired by fans and fellow celebs alike.
The Spiritual Reality
But alas, I am a Christian, and know what the Bible says about what happens when we die.
Because we are born sinners (Psalm 51:5), we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:2). Because of this, we are recipients of God’s wrath (John 3:36), and subject to eternal damnation in Hell followed by the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:14-15).
However, God has provided a way out from eternal damnation – and one way only – and this is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9). If we confess we are sinners and accept the lordship of Jesus Christ, we will be saved (Acts 16:31), and spend eternity with God in “Paradise” – or Heaven (Luke 23:43).
Which brings us back to Olivia Newton-John, and more specifically the question, Where is she right now?
Well, she’s in 1 or 2 places – Heaven or Hell. 1 John 5:11-12 tells us: “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life [eternity with Him], and this life is in His Son [Jesus]. The one who has the Son has the [eternal] life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the [eternal] life.”
Therefore, the answer to the question of “Where is Olivia Newton-John right now?” is this: “It depends on whether or not she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.”
I so hope Olivia gave her life to Christ and that she is now basking in the glories of her new heavenly abode. For a brief time in my life, I was memorized by her dazzling beauty, talent, and charm. But alas, such physical attributes are brief and fleeting.
In fact, every human attribute is brief and fleeting, followed by – at one time or another – the realization that we are but decaying dust and debris. And when at last our bodies give out, we go on to face almighty God.
We either face Him wearing the garb of our own failed righteousness, or in the glorious attire of Christ’s perfect righteousness imparted to us upon salvation.
I hope Olivia is clothed in Christ’s royal, righteous robes.
How about you? How are you clothed? Do you know the Savior?
Pastor John
August 8, 2022
So good. Yes, we have to remember that no matter how famous someone is, no matter how beautiful they are, the grave awaits for us all. And when that final time comes there’s only two destinations. Because of that, we need to keep preaching the gospel.
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dettinger47
August 8, 2022
Amen, Pastor John.
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vicklea
August 8, 2022
Like you, Olivia Newton-John was an iconic figure of my growing up years, although I was grown when she did “Grease” since she was only two years older than I am. I hope that she was saved and had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. So many die thinking that they are good people so that they will go to Heaven. Another big lie from Satan! We all need to keep praying, reading the Word and telling others the truth before it’s too late for them.
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dettinger47
August 8, 2022
So true. Well said, Vickie.
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Tom
August 9, 2022
David, I think I first took notice of Olivia Newton-John in 1974 while perusing through the albums at the local record store and coming across her “If You Love Me, Let Me Know” LP. What a beauty. Your summation is truth. The world venerates beauty, wealth, talent, intelligence, and celebrity, but those things are temporal. We are all sinners in need of the Savior.
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dettinger47
August 9, 2022
Well said, Tom. Amen.
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Bonnie Roerdink
August 9, 2022
I too am saddened by the passing of Olivia. The question is was she born again? You must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. John chapter 3. That is the key to salvatiom. To intellectually “accept”Jesus involves the mind but many times does not involve a heart that’s been transformed by the Holy Spirit. This transformation of the heart is a miracle from God and no one can make this happen by merely stating that they accept Christ. Hence there exists multitudes of false christians. To accept Christ insinuates that we have judged Him worthy. That’s a problem for sure. I guess I’m on a soap box about that word ” accept” as the word doesn’t appear in the Bible in the context of salvation.
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dettinger47
August 9, 2022
It’s just a matter of semantics. Of course I’m talking about true salvation as per the verses I mentioned in the blog.
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heavensreef
August 9, 2022
I too wish this for her. What she has gone through and battled had more meaning to me now that I have been diagnosed as well. But I know GOD has me in HIS capable arms and will give me the strength to face whatever comes my way. HE is the ONLY WAY……the narrow gate and then, knowing this, it is why we wonder where Olivia is. I pray for her family and also for those who do not know JESUS CHRIST as Savior!!
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dettinger47
August 9, 2022
Well said, Maxine. And I continue to pray for you.
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heavensreef
August 9, 2022
Thank you David……..I do feel your prayers!
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bigskybuckeye
August 10, 2022
David, your words pay tribute to one of the best. I, too, hope that Olivia is with the Lord.
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dettinger47
August 10, 2022
Thank you, Big Sky.
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Tom
August 16, 2022
David, I stumbled across the article below this morning while searching for news articles for next weekend’s news roundup and thought you might be interested. The article and especially the ending is not all that encouraging, but we don’t know for sure.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252017/olivia-newton-john-attended-catholic-mass-said-favorite-prayer-daily
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dettinger47
August 16, 2022
Thanks for that article, Tom. Unfortunately, it says nothing at all about faith in Christ alone. Very doubtful that message was preached at the church she attended.
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Tom
August 16, 2022
Your welcome, David. I agree article wasn’t overly encouraging.
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