No, this is not a story about the fabled rock and roll band Led Zeppelin (whom we saw in concert back in 1970 at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA). But it is about a song that has been a number one hit with hundreds of millions of fans for thousands of years. It really is the song of all songs…it really is the song for all ages.
As it is with many things in life, the same thing can be a good thing. Racing is loud, fast, exciting, breathtaking, dangerous, addicting, draws lots of attention, and at times is like an incurable disease to those who love motorsports. As avid racing aficionados, none of us would ever want racing to become a monotonous endeavor.
In the physical realm, nature also remains the same when it comes to the growth of trees, plants, flowers, and the much needed crops (and rain) that sustain human life. Along with the consistency of our four seasons (not the music group “The Four Seasons”) that usher in change (new growth, maturity, reflection, and old age), they remain the same as nature’s character traits supply each season with what mankind needs.
And in the spiritual life, eternity is a constant…if you believe in God who created the universe (and I do). He also created mankind to be with Him forever—because His song (of salvation) really does remain the same. If you don’t believe me, just ask Him, He’ll tell you.
The author of Hebrews tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His song has always been a sweet tune with perfect pitch and a marvelous harmony by legions of angels and hundreds of millions of believing saints.
We all have a favorite song from a special time in life (be it from your youth, your dating years, or when your children were growing up). These songs are imbedded in our brain, and they remain, like a stain, from which there is no refrain. Your memory is a major part of your life, and it helps you remember what you did, where you did it, and probably why you did it?
Here is a story and a secret about yours truly; the night that we saw Led Zeppelin was Labor Day weekend in 1970. On Friday night, several of us went to the concert. On Saturday we went to the drag races at Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, CA and saw Don Moody win a 32 car top fuel race in Wes Cerny’s awesome “Cerny-Lins-Moody” Top Fuel Dragster. Then on Sunday, the same group that went to the concert and the drag races went to the mountains in Wrightwood, CA and for the first time I tried a powerful substance…but I guess I shouldn’t tell you what it was? You’ll have to ask me about it at the races some day.
Remember, that was in our “BC” days…Before Christ. We went to tons of concerts (and saw most of the biggies) in our “BC” days and we could hang with anyone in those long past, but not forgotten days (as I do remember them all).
The human brain stores every bit of information it takes in…some good…some bad…some worth remembering…and some not worth remembering. But thankfully the Lord’s grace takes care of that old stuff while we were off pace, on the wrong base, and many times in the wrong place, knowing full-well it was foolish and a waste, but being forgiven means God threw out our case.
Stephen Sample says, “The average person suffers from three delusions: that he’s a good driver, that he has a good sense of humor, and that he’s a good listener. You may succeed in life without the first two, but you won’t without the other.”
One study says, “We hear half of what’s being said, listen to half of what we hear, understand half of that, believe half of that, and remember only about half of that. Translate that into an eight hour work day and it means: you spend about four hours listening, hear two hours of what’s said, listen to an hour of it, understand thirty minutes of it, believe only fifteen minutes worth, and remember less than eight minutes—of all that was said in eight hours.”
You cannot connect with someone or something if you are not paying close attention to what they have to say. Remember, a deaf ear is the first symptom of a closed mind. If you haven’t formed the habit of listening, you aren’t going to get the facts you need, and when you don’t have all the facts, you’re sometimes left out in the dark.
For many people, connecting with motorsports is the simple act of seeing, enjoying, and believing. For others, it takes hearing the roar of the engines or the smell of nitro to make a true connection. The same is true in the music industry; if you like to hear someone sing or play the guitar, you can connect with them in a way that brings you within reach of what they are trying to say through their music.
A racing machine also has a lot to say to the millions of fans who connect to the sounds of thundering engines that propel cars and boats to incredible speeds while no doubt dishing out decadent decibels to desperate dudes desiring to drown their ear drums between dawn and dusk.
In racing, the songs are the noise, the action, the thrills and spills, and the remembrance of how cool you thought it was witnessing it, and, those experiences keep playing over and over in your head like a broken record. At times (mentally), you can still see it, smell it, and hear it like it was yesterday when something triggers your memory…and it’s like being there all over again.
In the spiritual world, the key notes of Christianity’s songs bring God glory in your relationship with Him. The closer you walk with God, the clearer you can see and hear His guidance. The clearer you hear His guidance, the more you want to hear His song. A song that not only sounds sweet but smells even sweeter when the lyrics tell you that you will be able to listen to His song for eternity.
Can you imagine someone playing “your song” with no commercial interruptions while being broadcast in HD…on the Heavenly Divine network with resounding clarity and God Himself as the DJ…Divine Jesus at the turntable—after He turns the world’s song upside down with a new heaven and a new earth for us to play in.
Do you know what is wrong with many of us? We are trying to get out of trouble instead of trying to get into righteousness. So many people are focused on the defensive side of Christianity that they forget about the offensive, positive approach. Wouldn’t you rather experience the abundant life Christ speaks about in Scripture? Like an old song says, “Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative.”
The “old song(s) of our life” remain the same until we realize what we have in Christ? The “new song of our life” changes us when we identify with Christ as our Lord and Savior. He gives us a new name just like He changed the apostle named Simon…to Peter.
Once we have the words for our new song, we must then identify by singing it (actually living it by example) because we are “God’s elect, strangers in the world…who have been chosen by God” (1 Peter 1:1-2). Peter was emphasizing (our) new identity as believers in Christ.
The nature, seasons, and identity of a Christian are chosen by the Father, through the work of the Spirit, for obedience to, and participation with, the Son; as the holy Trinity writes the new lyrics of a believer’s new life (or new song) in Christ.
Another famous rock group “The Who” (whom we saw in concert at Angel Stadium in 1976) had a song that proclaimed “Who are you, who, who, are you?” Peter Townsend may have played guitar for “The Who,” but the apostle Peter from the Bible reminds us that the instrument we play is our faith, and our faith is grounded in our calling and acceptance by God. Who are you is determined by whom you belong to? Thus, your relationship with Christ determines your eternal identity.
I’m sure you’re ready for your next race. But, are you ready to take the next step of faith and delve into a new song that should be just as anticipated as your favorite music group’s next CD? If you’re hopeful of the rewards of winning a championship, you should be filled even more with the expectations from the lessons of a life well lived that point others to heaven’s treasure: “Not only to me but also to all who have longed for Jesus’ appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Life’s not about the Rolling Stones (whom we saw at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1984). It’s about the living stones that Jesus Christ uses to build His church. The “rock” upon which Christ promised to build His church was Peter’s (and our) confession that Jesus is the “Rock” we must roll with. “The Rock of ages” is a sure foundation for everyone who believes in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of the living God.
Maybe one day you’ll become a pillar in the racing community, but by fine-tuning yourself (not your motor) in your assignment with Jesus, “And given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now” (1 Peter 1:4 MSG), you can remain the same…an important example in the church and for Christ the Lord.
The same intriguing story runs throughout the Scriptures…it’s a road of remembrance. God continues to tell His story and “His Song Remains the Same,” and because of that, “I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers” (Psalm 13: 8 MSG).
By the way, it’s no secret that Jesus Christ promises you and me an eternal “Stairway to Heaven.”