We often sit back and think to ourselves, what are the things in this life that truly matter? Okay, I guess I am saying this because I have wondered the exact same thing before. Maybe there are many who do not, I don’t know. The thing is this: What about those who ask this same question? I know many watch celebrities come and go, and some have great success and then pass away. They wonder if their fame and fortune was all that mattered to them, or was it a side-effect in their quest for better music?
I know in all my years, I have loved different songs, some were and still are my favorites; the “Golden Oldies” for instance. I know I have remarked before that I love the older Country music, but then I ask myself, if I am doing nothing more than showing my age. And it seems important to note, that sometimes I did not like the artist, but loved a particular song.
Other times I love a song for a more personal reason, because I was always played certain songs in diners when my mom and dad and my sister and I were traveling. Or it could have been Patsy Cline. The point is, there is always a reason for our love of music; one of the more resonating things in life.
Having said all of this…How odd is it…we see almost nothing like this about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? In my last article, I spoke about all the blessings we receive from the Lord, despite whether we are saved to Jesus or not. Why is it we can feel so bad about the passing of a celebrity and relegate the death of Jesus Christ to only once a week at church, if that?
How odd is it…the celebrities can have vast personal wealth and yet that wealth is only temporary at best? How odd is it, that we will play and replay certain songs after an artist passes on and yet we never find time to play and sing, “The Old Rugged Cross?” Or maybe “How Great thou art?” Does any of this make any sense to you?
Again, I am going to ask you, who deserves the thanks and the praise, the glory for all we have?
Yesterday, I found out I am growing cataracts and if in the near future, if I do not have cataract surgery, I could lose my eye sight. So now the big question is, when should I have surgery? Most everyone would be all concerned about this, if it were their situation. My thought is this: My life here on earth is temporary, is this surgery really all that important?
There are others that still write for the Lord and they are completely blind; should that change my mind? I will indeed have the surgery and in the near future, because this is a blessing from the Lord to be able to see. I will not take it for granted.
Along with this, there are celebrities that are blind as well. Does this change their abilities to write and play music? I would be willing to say that they would give their right arm to be able to see, again; it is a gift from the Lord. Since I am able to see, it is to the Lord to whom I give the glory. I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for my sight. Every single ability we have, is a gift of the Lord God and none other, thus we should be giving HIM all our thanks and glory.
To be honest, I do not care who wrote and performed “Hotel California.” I am not trying to be obstinate here, it’s not a song that I particularly like. It’s a personal choice by each individual and different individuals will have different likes and dislikes; we are all unique and having stated that, our choices will be unique as well.
Psalm 105:1-5 “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.”
Here is where the difference truly is! We are able to see, to play and write music, to enjoy listening to it, but in truth…the Lord God is reason we are able to do so. The Lord God has given us every single ability, HE has even given us the next breath of air to allow us to live on, where is the Praise and Honor for HIM?! As I go about my daily life, I want to make sure that I praise and glorify the Lord for all the things and abilities HE has given to me, even when I realize, I do NOT deserve any of them.
We so often forget, that the simple fact that we are alive, is because HE Loved you and I first. The Lord God chose to create each and every one of us, but HE did so for HIS Glory. As fallen and disgraceful as each and every one of us are, we should be on our faces, thanking HIM. If one is willing to face the truth, no one has the right to any fame or glory, for anything we could ever do, because the Lord is the reason we are alive to begin with.
Who gave us the ability to sing, or to write music, or to write articles about HIM? The Lord God…Jesus Christ. Maybe this will lend some understanding for HIS Holy Word, the Bible. The Lord God is able to lay claim to every good thing, for every good ability we could ever have,. Thus…HE deserves our devotion and love…at every turn of every day.
Why is it that we forget this? How can we be so narrow minded as to forget to give our thanks and love, to the Lord who is so deserving? No two days are exactly alike, no two sunrises are exactly alike and no two trees are exactly alike. Who is it that is responsible for all of this? It is NOT…you or me. It IS the Lord God…Jesus Christ…who deserves our never-ending love and devotion…that deserves our thanks.
John 15:1-7 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Psalm 18-1-3 “(To the chief Musician, a psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,) I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
We deserve nothing! We have sinned against the Lord God and we deserve death eternally, of our own account. It is the Lord that saves us and covers our sin with HIS blood from the Cross; it is HE that makes us able to be presented before the Lord God Almighty. We have one decision to make, will we or will we NOT follow the Lord Jesus Christ?
That’s it…the only reason for our life here on earth! That is the only free will choice we have to make. This is true because every single thought we could ever have must be allowed by the Lord God! Our next breath of air is dependent on HIM and no other.
You have problems, the Lord knows about them and has always known of them. You and I can NOT hide from the Lord and we can NOT hide a single sin from HIM, our every thought which comes from the intent of our heart is known by HIM!
I do not care what anyone says, God is all-knowing. If someone does not understand this, then they need to re-read the Word of God and ask the Lord, in all earnestness, for HIS wisdom and discernment! There is absolutely NO other way!