Good-Bye Yellow Brick Road…

We were all at Mom and Dad’s a few years ago doing some spring cleaning and painting and my sister, Betty, was responsible for bringing the music. The minute she put on the Elton John CD our spirits and voices rose as high as our paint brushes joyfully singing along!

I hadn’t heard some of those songs in years… perhaps decades! But as soon as I heard the first notes, I knew every word! Every word! To every song! It was like I was a teenager again back in high school cruising around with open car windows, or sleeping in on a lazy Saturday morning.

Why is it that a song can bring back so many memories and emotions? We can hear a song and recall every detail of the moment we first heard it: Who we were with, whether it was day or night, warm or cold. We recall the emotion, perhaps the clothes we were wearing, or the food we shared.

And, not just pop-culture either. Every time I hear “Great I Am” or “The Only Name” I think of my dad worshiping in the presence of Jesus. When I hear “Victory In Jesus” I think of my grandparents. Music is a powerful tool.

Perhaps that’s why God uses songs throughout the Bible as teaching tools. When Moses had led the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land, God told him to write and teach them a song to remind them to obey.

“”So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.” – Deuteronomy 31:19 NLT

“When Moses had finished reciting all these words to the people of Israel, he added, “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words – they are your life!” Deuteronomy 32:45-47 NLT

God’s Words are our life. When we listen, hear, apply and obey what He teaches us, we will live with Him forever. One day we will all learn and sing a new song together! “Revelation Song”

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing…” Revelation 5:11-13 NIV

Oh how wonderful it will be when we are all singing and praising God together. How wonderful it will be when every day will be a day of worship and praise. Imagine all the memories that will come flooding back when we sing the familiar hymns alongside the people we love, worshiping at the feet of Jesus.