Music In Heaven Sounds Like…?
Whether it’s a costume, dress-up or an all-white 70’s, 80’s or 90’s throwback celebration, I love, love, love a chance to don the clothes and dance in the garb of a bygone era. The gathering place, whether a friend’s home, a backyard, or a ballroom, is charged with energy, laughter and welcoming shout-outs to new arrivers. The concerns of my heart and mind that accompany me to those joyful gatherings recede once I step inside. They are overwhelmed by the sweet soulful music and memories of the good ‘ole days.
Well there has been little to none of that this year for many of us. Gone were the (in-person) throwback celebrations and serenading of one another with chart-topping songs and dance steps of the decades. Cares, concerns and CoVid would not recede. These life and death issues still brazenly dare to take center stage in our lives. There is no dressing up or changing clothes for a quick melodic escape. We have to stand as we are, face to face with each and every thing 2020 brings our way.
Often in the midst of those soulful throwback gatherings, I’d wonder: what in the world must music in heaven sound like? And as if ponderings are prayers, God’s Great Grace answers: Music in heaven sounds like songs of oppression and suffering defeated by joy, hope and truth, victoriously reverberating through the generations. Music in heaven sounds like Jesus.
Music in heaven sounds like Jesus has come to earth.
“Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.”
Music in heaven sounds like Jesus speaking on earth.
“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’ ”
Music in heaven sounds like Jesus touching the untouchables on earth.
“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Music in heaven sounds like Jesus leaving heaven on earth.
“ ‘ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.’ ”
“ …. ‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ”
At the start of this Advent season (a period of four weeks during which we remember the coming to earth of Jesus), I think about the 400 years people waited year after year, hoping in the midst of oppression and exile, to hear music, a Word, from heaven. 2020 and its cares, concerns and CoVid are trying. Very trying. But Jesus has come to earth ya’ll!!! He has walked on earth. He left Himself, His Spirit with us, in us, on earth. Where we are, (those of us who believe He is Who He is), He is also.
Glory to God!
I look forward to dressing up, celebrating, singing and dancing with family and friends. I can hardly wait to see my fellow believers and worship God together once again. But even still, I hear now, victorious music on earth to which I dance, because Jesus came, spoke, touched, and indwells. Remember my sister, as you contemplate the coming of Jesus Christ this advent season, His words, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Yes, our cares, concerns and CoVid are real. There are real life impacts to our decisions, and when things hurt, they HURT. 2020 didn’t come to play. It threw some of the hardest hits a few of us may have ever felt.
Yet still, we make room to sing and dance because difficulties, hardships, sufferings, plus THE TRUTH that joy, hope and fulfilled promises have come and are yet coming, make for some soulful music.
I hope Jesus sounds heavenly to your ears.