Jim Iyke says there was a time when he believed the overwhelming attention from fans made him special.
The veteran Nollywood actor recalled people crying and even fainting whenever he walked into a room, admitting that he mistook their admiration for something far greater than it really was.
When you extol yourself to god-like status when you think you should be worshipped or the laws should not apply to you anymore, you are literally worshipped. I have been there. I have seen people cry when I walked into a room and I look at them and I think I am special. No you are not.
Looking back, Iyke says that experience taught him one of the biggest dangers of celebrity culture.
It also shaped the way he now views the entertainment industry.
During a conversation with media personality Joey Akan, the actor argued that the business often celebrates self above everything else, making it difficult for people to stay grounded in their faith.
There is no bigger enabler than the entertainment industry. This is where demons live. Entertainment is totally created and orchestrated to extol the virtues of Satanism.
For Iyke, the problem is not creativity itself. He believes the trouble begins when creatives start chasing their own glory instead of the One who gave them the gift.
As a creative, to create is to mimic God. But in the entertainment structure many serve self. You cannot serve God and serve self. That is a conflict of interest. Serving self is satanism itself.
That, he says, is why anyone who wants to keep God at the centre of their life must make a deliberate choice, regardless of the pressures that come with fame.
What in the entertainment industry glorifies God except you intentionally or consciously pursue him? Is it the blatant life? What do we extol that is godly? I am not saying God doesn’t exist in the entertainment industry, I am saying the entertainment industry is predominantly created for satanism.
Years after reaching the height of his fame, Jim Iyke says he measures success differently.
Rather than the applause of fans, he believes finding God is the greatest achievement anyone can experience.
Once you find your place with God, you will understand what is special. What is special is being able to find God in this place that is devoid of his presence.