Thursday, February 23, 2012
And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures
and elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been
redeemed from the earth. - Revelation 14:3
It suffices to say that the song in Revelation 14 will probably not make the
Billboard Top 100 if only those on earth whom the angels marked as servants
of God in Revelation 7 could sing it. In fact, a song that only today’s believers
on earth could learn may have some trouble climbing the charts, too. Matthew
7:14 says, But small is that gate and narrow the road
that leads to life, and only a few find it.
But one should not judge these songs on their
popularity; whether it’s in Psalms, Isaiah, or Revelations,
any time a new song is sung, the song is one of great joy,
a joy that only can be found in those who believe and follow God. While some
may not understand these songs, they will understand that something is
different in those who can sing the song. 1 Peter 2:12 says, Live such good
lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may
see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Back during my days as an opinion columnist for The Cornell Daily Sun, the
last Associate Editor I worked with wrote some columns that you probably
couldn’t read in church, and when the Student Assembly considered defunding
and even derecognizing the Christian fellowship Chi Alpha, we fell on opposite
sides of the issue. But when I wrote my farewell column, instead of following
the columnist tradition of sending a million shout-outs to my closest friends, I
reserved only one shout-out for Pastor Foote, promoting the Feed My Starving
Children event Trinity was running in the fall. That Associate Editor, while he
agreed with me on little, commented on how columnists should use their
shout-outs like I did.
A song cannot spread if others do not hear it. While everyone right now may
not understand the faith of those who believe in Christ or the new songs they
may sing, until the Day of Judgment comes, hope remains that through the
testimony of those who sing a new song in the Lord and through the Holy
Spirit, others may come to know Christ and sing a new song themselves.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank You for saving and redeeming us so that we may sing a
new song to the Lord. Let us live the life of those who sing a new song, so that
we may testify to Your glory. We pray that our testimony and the power of
Your Holy Spirit may lead others to faith, so that they may one day join us in
heaven, singing and praising God. In Your name, Amen.
-- Mike Wacker