If you had to go without one of your senses, either your sight or your hearing, which would you choose? Someone once asked me this question. Without hesitation I said, “I would go without my eyesight!”As I began to reflect on what this would mean, I realized that if I lost my ability to see I would lose so much. I would never again this side of heaven get to see a beautifully colored rainbow glimmer from a dewy sky. I would forever have to sit in darkness as others watched a precious toddler take her first step and see the grin of delight on her sweet face. I would never again have the privilege of witnessing the mystery and beauty of a wedding where two become one, and never again could I gaze at the stars and the vast universe and ponder the limitless power and might of our Lord!
I almost took back what I had said, but then I started to contemplate on what life would be like if I were deaf? Others would hear the birds in the morning as they sing their sweet melodies to their Creator…I would not. Others would hear the voices of their loved ones say “I love you” at night and “I’m going to miss you” before a journey…I would not. I would have to give up the dream of hearing my child say “mama” for the very first time and no longer would I hear the rain as it falls to water the earth. Never again would I hear my little sister ask me if it was ok for her not to eat the olives on her salad because they were too big! (This just happened!)
And above all, I would never again be able to hear the beautiful melodies of praise to our God through music! These thoughts were very sobering to me. God gives grace and joy to those who don’t have hearing or eyesight and will also give grace to us if we ever lose either. I didn’t describe these scenarios to bring depression or cause despair, but to help us understand just how blessed we are! We should not take one day for granted.
My story really begins with my grandparents. My grandmother was a concert pianist and she died when I was seven years old. I have very few memories of her, but there is one I remember very well! I had a certain song that I loved and she would play that selection for me whenever I wanted to hear it! A few days after her death, my grandfather told my mom that he wanted good music to carry on in his family and that he would be willing to pay for music lessons for my sisters and me! I praise the Lord for my grandparents and will never forget them as long as I live!Over the years I have taken his desire for a godly legacy very seriously, and God has been so faithful to make my grandfathers vision become a reality!
God has opened up many doors of opportunity to serve Him with the gifts that He has given us. For example, a few months ago my sister (Kelly) and I were asked to sing for a funeral. We sang a song called “On the Other Side of the Grave is Victory” right in front of the opened casket. God has used music to bless my life more then I can even begin to describe!
We are instructed in 1 Cor. 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Even music, you might ask? Yes! I looked up the word “all” in the Greek and it means (drum roll please) ALL!!! All includes music. With that said, we need to ask ourselves does my music bring God glory? Not only the music that we sing with or play on the piano and other instruments, but what about the music we listen to on CD’s, tapes or the radio? Does this music bring God glory? Ask yourself this question, if Jesus were standing right here by me (which He is) would He be able to rejoice in His Heavenly Father and the creation that He made and say with His whole heart, “Father, this music brings you GLORY!!!” Does your music pass this test?
If we are children of God, then we belong to Him and no longer have rights over any aspect of our lives. Jesus does!!! Our ears belong to Him because we have been bought with a price, (1 Cor. 6:19-20) therefore, we are instructed to glorify God in our bodies. (Our ears are part of our bodies the last time I checked!)
This means that your eyes are His to control. He decides what you will look at. Your tongue is His, to speak what He wants spoken and your precious ears are His too, to hear what brings Him glory! When I begin to consider such a loving Creator as our Lord, I am filled with wonder! We are fearfully and wonderfully made! God took utmost care when he created us and this includes our ears! You see our loving Heavenly Creator wants us to fill our ears with music that glorifies and exalts Him, not the world and our fleshly desires.
Stop right now and prayerfully ask the Lord “Lord, does my music glorify You, my loving Creator?” Either it does or it doesn’t. If the answer is yes, then praise the Lord! If not, ask the Lord for the desire to listen to music that glorifies Him.
Music is a important topic and I’m sure we could discuss this topic all day, (and I would love to!) but the Lord really impressed upon me to only share this one basic truth…do ALL to the glory of God! Remember ALL means ALL!!!
