I love music, especially Christian music, whether Southern Gospel, hymns or contemporary. I usually go to sleep each night with a song lodged in my mind. I was just thinking about a song my friend, Carl Dalrymple, would sing at Central Baptist Church in Prescott. The song was “Only the Redeemed.” The chorus has these lyrics: “And only the redeemed shall hear his voice on that day, as He comes in clouds of glory to catch us all away.”
What the Bible Says
Songs are not Scripture, but Christian songs should be scriptural. This song is scriptural. Music can be soothing to the soul, but if the lyrics conflict with the Word of God, they can lead some to believe that which is untrue.
One song may say that baptism saves the lost. Another says that works can get a person to Heaven. There are even songs that imply that when we die, we become angels. In each case, there is direct conflict with what the Bible says. When the unsaved guest or the new babe in Christ hears things like this in songs, and then hear the biblical Scriptures saying the opposite, doubt and confusion may overtake them.
That Day is Coming!
Today, a minuscule number of teachers say that Jesus has already returned. Sadly, with that perspective, there is little to sing about and nothing to anticipate, nothing to comfort the lost, or to assure the saved. However, believers are responsible for telling others that Jesus died for them, arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, with a promise to return with every eye seeing Him. Furthermore, He promised to take those believers to be with Him — forever. That day is yet to come!
How Much Longer?
Since the day Christ ascended, believers have looked for His return. Twenty-one centuries have passed, and we are still waiting. Some may ask, “Did Jesus say He would come quickly?” Yes. And the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Peter to explain: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand year, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:8-9 NIV1984). With Jesus, who is eternal, He has only been gone for two years!
Until our Lord calls us away, we have much to do. The best thing that could have happened to us one second after our salvation would have been to die. We would be in the presence of the Lord. However, He left us here on earth for His purpose and that is for us to be His witnesses. Please be patient. God is not through with us yet!
The Word of the Lord is What Matters
I mentioned previously that the song “Only the Redeemed” is scriptural. It is based on the truth of what Paul wrote to the Church at Thessalonica — “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words’’ (I Thess. 4:13-18, NIV).
Only the Redeemed will hear that voice. Only the Redeemed will be caught up in the air.
