Yesterday I spoke at both services of the Methodist church in Thomasville GA. The two services contrasted enormously. The first was contemporary and more casual in nature, and the second was traditional and more formal. As one would expect the music was quite different with the contemporary consisting of electric guitars, drums, and a band led praise service. And the traditional consisted of an organ, choir, and singing of traditional hymns in a more reserved setting.
I sat next to the pastor during both services and I immediately discovered that if poor singing was against the law, he would be arrested. Saying that he was off “key” would be kind, in that the “key” that he was singing in could not legitimately be called a “key”. It was reminiscent of scratching one’s fingernails across a chalk board and it had me tilting my head from side to side as though a puppet string was being pulled on the side of my face as I winced in pain from hearing him.
The first thing he did was hand me a song book. I can’t sing any better than him and I simply put it down beside me, preferring to stand there and listen as the good singers praised the Lord. His choir director who had the voice of an angel went over and picked up the song book and put it back in my hands and looked at me with an expression of: SING!
Hmmm… I didn’t like the look she gave me. It was as though I might get swatted with a ruler across my knuckles if I didn’t comply, so I opened it to the appropriate page and softly mouthed the words. She looked over at me approvingly and I smiled back at her, happy that the coast was clear.
After the services I spoke with the pastor and chided him for his lack of singing ability. I told him that I’m not sure even God appreciated it. He told me he was aware that it was bad, but he was encouraged that he would be a star singer in heaven.
I was thinking of our good natured exchange this morning and I remembered something that I told both congregations during my message. I related that when I left Honey Lake to go to church that morning a heavy mist hung over the lake. I told them when I returned home it would be gone. That is how the Bible describes life on this earth, saying it is like a “vapor” it is here only for a short time and then gone.
Eternity is really something to look forward to, is it not? Just think Pastor Ronnie will get his new glorified body and will be capable of singing like his angelic choir director. He and all of us will be free from all the assorted aches, pains, problems, sadness, fears, anger, imperfections, and frustrations that we face on a daily basis.
I’ve studied the Bible for nearly 40 years now and a constant theme that God, who is not restricted by the dimension of time, reminds us of is the brevity of life on this earth. And then He makes clear that we will enjoy peace, joy, and love through time eternal with our Savior. In heaven all references to time will be removed, and we will not think in minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years anymore. There will be no beginning and no end.
It kind of makes you wonder why anyone would reject the Son of God. Maybe not enough people are taking the “time” to witness to them about what is to come. According to all four of the Gospels, the last thing Jesus did before ascending into heaven was to instruct His disciples to go out and tell the world the “good news”.
Did you know that is what the word “gospel” means? It is good news to know that we will be able to live forever in eternal bliss because Jesus sacrificed His life for ours and paid the price for our sins. I urge you to become a disciple of God and begin witnessing to others at every opportunity, even if you have to make some opportunities, because time, well time is running out for you and me and all of the world.
I for one am exceedingly glad that “all things will be made new”, not just that I can be changed and all my faults removed, but it gives me tremendous satisfaction in knowing that one day Pastor Ronnie will be able to carry a tune. It all gives me hope and comfort…
If you don’t have hope and comfort, it can be a part of your life in the twinkling of an eye. When asked to remember Him by a thief on a cross, Jesus told that sinner, “This DAY you will be in paradise with me”, (Emphasis mine).
The Bible tells us that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved and that was an example of just how fast salvation happens.
Call upon Him right now and ask for forgiveness for your shortcomings, and then turn from your sins and in a twinkling of an eye you will be headed towards an eternity of peace, joy, and love.
Hmmm… I almost forgot about that thief on the other cross, the one who rejected Jesus? Well folks according to the words of Jesus Himself his eternity as well as the rest of mankind that rejects His offer of grace will be filled with weeping and gnashing of teeth; they will reside all alone blanketed in darkness and suffering forever.
Yikes! Not a pretty thought…
We have a choice. Make yours wisely…
Romans 10:13
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Matt. 25:30
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’