“You’ve got to pay your dues, if you want to sing the blues...” sang Ringo,
and it is true of rock and roll too. Over the years when in high school and
college, I went to many rock concerts. And for the $4 we spent on them, we
used to be able to buy their latest album, plus a Big Mac, fries, and a Coke.
We demanded much, and so we got twin bills, a known group with a warm up band as
its opening act. Like getting two for one, such a deal. And such a deal it
was, as I saw The Eagles as an opening act for the Beach Boys, and for Robin
Trower. How about another Beach Boys show with Looking Glass, remember their
only hit “Brandy, you’re a fine girl...” the Kinks, one I will never forget, and
then the B. Boys. How about Ike and Tina Turner? Top line on their own, I saw
them open for Santana. The J. Geils Band was a hot opening act for anyone from
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer to again Santana, until one night I saw Black Oak
Arkansas, another one hit wonder, of Smokin’ in the Boys Room fame, and Peter
Frampton warm up for them. The same Frampton whose live album is the all time
best selling live album. Again Robin Trower for Yes. How about The Eagles and
Mountain, whose hard rock set the place on fire, warming us up for Alice
Cooper? But one night at Avery Fischer Hall, a small concert hall in Lincoln
Center for the Performing Arts, quite high brow, we went to see Chicago. But
they could never keep up with the opening act, who lit us up with their classic
Born to Run, before the album came out. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street
Band, and I can’t remember much after that song. And I loved Chicago, just not
the city. And so in every concert, it was the job of the opening act to set the
tone for the main event, and to gain recognition for themselves. A far cry from
seeing The Who at Union Catholic High School, and Iron Butterfly with local
bands as opening acts. Or seeing Santana for $2 at New Providence High, with
the local groups being able to say they shared top billing with Supergroups. If
only we had known at the time the deal what we were getting, we would have spent
the extra dollar for better seats. But like Ringo sang, “you know it don’t come
easy.”
John the Baptist was quite a big name in his time. He drew huge crowds
wherever he went, baptizing people in the name o f God for forgiveness of sins.
So popular was he, that King Herod hated him, but was afraid if he killed him it
would be bad press for him. Seems John had some bad press said about Herod and
his living conditions. But under pressure from his step daughter one night,
after her famous dance performance, he told her she could have anything in his
kingdom. She asked for J the B’s head on a platter, and he couldn’t refuse
because of the crowd who was there, and his head she got. This man who was
famous, and famously meek, who would preach the coming of Jesus, and tell how he
“wasn’t fit to tie the sandal of one so great,” was the opening act for the
gospel. His job was to pave the way for the first coming of Jesus on earth. To
tell people of how he saved, who he was, and how to be saved. Giving his own
life, and fulfilling the prophecies he spoke of, before he was able to see Jesus
fulfill them. His preaching about forgiveness of sins had many think he was
savior, but he was really just the opening act. One who would become a name in
his own right, but knew who the real savior was. And told everyone, until death
cut his message short. It would be this same John who baptized Jesus in the
Jordan River, and who saw the Holy spirit enter into Jesus as a dove. Talk
about an opening act! For anyone but Jesus it would be tough to follow, but
today we find that anyone after Jesus is a tough act to follow. Yet we are
given the chance to follow him to heaven if we give him our lives. Yet many
don’t, won’t and turn away. They believe him as a historic figure, but not as
the Son of God. Not the savior the scriptures promised. Some even worship in
churches today named after St. John, or San Juan Bautista, bit it was, is, and
always will be all about Jesus. John knew that, his opening act setting an
example for us today. For like any great performance , it demands an encore.
And Jesus is coming back....for all who believe.
Now if you doubt God’s Word today, and don’t believe the facts about Jesus’
first trip to earth, you will be surprised and amazed at his second. Fro in the
sound of a trumpet, he will call his followers home to heaven for eternity. And
for those who are left, the ones who don’t believe the claims of Jesus, it will
be a time of turmoil, the seven roughest years in earth’s history. If you think
it is hard with Christian here, when we are gone so will all good, morals, and
evil will have its way. And like the cool posters from the sixties and
seventies, Jesus warns of us of what is to come. Various earthquakes,
pestilence, crime out of control, murder and abortion, mothers turning on their
children, and the likes of pornography, degradation of the family, and wrong
being right, and right being called wrong. Sound like today...a final warning
for all to see, so universally done that it not only proves a creator, but of
his love. He sent Jesus once to save us, now he will send him to call us home.
The wedding will be consummated, the eternal parties begin. No parties in hell
like the cartoonists like to show, no exit, only a gate keeping you out. And
this may be your last chance for tickets for the greatest show on earth, and
heaven. Don’t scoff at the price of the tickets, and don’t worry about
seating. For every knee will bow on heaven and in hell, just one side will
party. The others will be in darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. So
lonely because they denied Jesus. But the show is just beginning, and good
seats are still available. But only in Jesus, will you be assured a place in
heaven. The Book of Life will record your transaction, your sin for his glory
and grace, and when the show starts, you’ll be there. A rock show like none
other, with Jesus the rock the main act. In fact the only act, as for the
ticket you bought no one else will ever share the bill. It’s Jesus and
.....Jesus.
Some like to proclaim that rock and roll will never die. Names like Buddy
Holly, Ritchie Valens, John Lennon, and George Harrison tell us different. Only
in Jesus will life never end, but only when Jesus is the rock, and your name is
on the role! See you there.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com