“Some glad morning when this life is over
I’ll fly away
To a home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away”
I’ll Fly Away, Alan Jackson
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:1-4:
I have always loved country and folk music. As long as I can remember it has been a part of my life.
The churches I grew up in – the music that accompanied their worship – was also heavily influenced by these styles.
One of my favourite songs is and will probably always be “I’ll Fly Away”. It has that bounce to it, you know? You can do a lot with it rhythmically but you can also get all deep when you slow it down. It really is a very fun song to sing, to play and to listen to.
Reflecting on the content today I can identify a few other reasons why I love it. Besides the more technical reasons, personal preference as well as the nostalgia attached to it – theologically it has a message I don’t hear often anymore.
I grew up in Afrikaans Pentecostal churches that very much preached Heaven and Hell – and the importance of knowing for certain that you were right with God and living accordingly.
We sang a lot of songs about our longing for ‘home’.
For a long time I have been very unsatisfied listening to the preaching of the ‘modern’ church – we have started focusing more on sermons and motivational messages about ‘living your best life now!’. And yes, these messages are necessary – they have their value and they help a lot of people – but because our preachers and pastors have become politicians, ‘pop’-psychologists and life coaches the church has lost a lot of its fire.
As a first year seminary student I fell in love with the Poetry and Prophecy of the Bible – how often psalmists, prophets, priests and kings would put pen to paper and express their longing and desire for a Kingdom not of this Earth…
Perhaps this is why revival tarries…
Again and again in the Psalms and the Prophets we see a vision of the Heavenly Kingdom being painted for us.
1 Peter 2:11-12: 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Peter calls us sojourners – pilgrims – travellers.
I’ve had the privilege to know and meet people from all over the world. And the best part about people visiting South Africa from somewhere else is the fact that I get to share my culture with them, and they in turn share their culture with me.
We are called to minister Cross-culturaly. I am meant to share the culture of the Cross with those dear individuals I meet on the pilgrimage of this life.
I remember a conversation with a musician friend of mine from Jamaica – and the way he described his home country with so much love made me want to visit.
Kailie lived in Ireland for a while, and her conversations have made me think – quite often – about moving there.
Just like these conversations, on this pilgrimage – in our travels – we are called to build the Kingdom.
We should live in such a way – our conduct honorable, our works good and our lives a testimony to the glory of God – that as many people want to come with us as we journey home.
Our culture – the culture of the Cross – should become evident in our lives, so much so that all can see the ‘otherness’ of our lives – the victory, the peace, the love, the mercy and the grace… So much so that they pick up their own mat and cross and follow Christ.
Let us live with our minds set on Home – not just the here and now. Let us journey, and as we travel through this life let us pick up as many hitchhikers as possible. Let us plant seeds of hope – plantations of righteousness as a trail for those who lag behind to follow. Let us not build for the here and now with sticks and stones – but let us build the Eternal Kingdom with Living Stones moulded and shaped along the way.
Prayer: Lord, fill me with a vision of Your Kingdom. Fill me with the joy of this salvation found in You. I am not just redeemed for this life but for eternity – I was not designed just for the here and now – but for forever in Your presence. I thank You Lord that this life is only the beginning and not the final destination. You are the beginning. You are my present. And You are my final destination. Let me live a life worthy of You while I am here and help me bring my friends and family with me into Your Kingdom. In Jesus Name. Amen.