02/14/2023
We hear people proclaim that they are subject to no one. We listen to them as they brag that they are their own person, or sing songs proclaiming that they did it their way, and which are meant to glorify themselves or mankind. But these are the words and songs of the world and are not of God; they are not righteousness and will fall silent in eternity. If we believe that we belong to ourselves, or to anyone or anything other than our Holy Father, then we belong to nothing and are truly lost… our existence is fleeting indeed, and we are destined to die with the world. Who do we believe is God? Who is our shepherd, and who do we serve?
“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 100:3 ESV
There are statues erected around the world to men and women who believed in themselves and placed themselves above God. These monuments were created by people who followed the lost as if they were gods, but in the end they all crumble and fall. Likewise, there are songs that are played and sung, and words written in poetry and prose, which in a few brief years will fade away and never be heard or remembered again. These statues are the idols and golden calves of the lost, and these songs and words of praise are hollow… the echos of a failed world.
The only words that are eternal are the Words of God, and the only songs that endure are those sung before His throne in praise and worship to Him. So, if we sing worldly songs, we should count them as simply that… shallow songs of today, with Melodies and words that will be lost and forgotten over time. But, if we sing a new song that blesses God and tells of Him and the gospel of Jesus then they will last and be sung for eternity in heaven.
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.”
Psalm 96:1-5 ESV
We belong to God despite our desire to rule over ourselves, and if we preach, teach, sing, or write to bring glory to ourselves or mankind, then we are empty shells: we are simple jars of clay that hold no wine, and Jesus will know us not at the moment of our judgement.
““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
We are God’s sheep, and meant to serve Him, and glorify Him. We are His flock that He cares for and that He lovingly provides for. No scripture, or song, says it better than the verses we read, sing, and hear, in Psalm 23…
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:1-3 ESV
And if we are His sheep, and know His voice then no scripture speaks of God’s desire for us to live, and spend eternity with Him than this…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
John 5:24-25 ESV
So who is our God? He is the God of Abraham and Moses! And, who is our Father? He is the Great I Am, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Who is our shepherd? It is He who leads us beside the still waters, and restores our soul. And, in whom do we believe? We believe in Abba our Father God, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit that gives us remembrance and understanding. If we believe these things then there is no statue that stands in our life, no poem that doesn’t glorify God, and no song that doesn’t praise Him and give voice to our hearts desire to be with Him forevermore.
So, let’s ask ourselves how we serve Him and why. Let’s ask ourselves the questions “Who do we believe is God? Who is our shepherd, and who do we serve?”, and then let’s answer these questions truthfully… even if we once thought we knew the answers, and that Jesus would know us in judgement.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for opening our eyes and our hearts to who you are, and thank you for being our shepherd who has led us out of the wilderness of the world, and returned us to your lush pastures, and streams of living water. Help us Lord to resist placing anything above you as we seek with Jesus to find the lost lambs in the world. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always and cares for us without fail. Praised be your name for the eternal songs we sing with the saints, and for the heavenly poetry we recite that glorifies you. Merciful are you who comes for us when we are lost and gives us escape from all temptation. Your grace is sufficient not only for each of us, but for all the world, so pour it over us Father that we might each find forgiveness where there was once only sin. Wash us in the blood of Jesus who was broken that we might be made whole, and shed His blood that we would be forgiven. Transform us Father into His Holy image of Christ, and perfect us in Him. Pronounce us worthy on Judgement Day and call us your children as we chant and sing Holy, Holy, Holy to you before your throne forevermore. You are our creator, shepherd, father, and Abba… now and throughout eternity. This is our belief, and in this we live in faith.
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””
Revelation 4:8-11 ESV
Rich Forbes