We are in the early years of rock and roll, Elvis is King, the world still
is in mourning over the death of The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy
Holly, the day the music died. A young promoter out of Philadelphia is
scheduling musical acts in Atlantic City, and has scheduled a man with a song
and a new dance. But he comes up ill and cannot be there, so the promoter calls
a man he met a few years earlier to fill in, and Edgar Evans show up. His song
and dance ignite the rock world, the dance, The Twist, a dance with no steps,
and the promoter a young Dick Clark. The name Edgar Evans shows up nowhere in
musical history today, but we know him as Chubby Checker. Dick goes onto
promote American Bandstand, and many new groups will be given a chance at
stardom, and the intro to stardom through him. Just mention The Twist and
everybody starts doing it....
Moving on a few years, the president of a new record label is listening to
a band audition out in LA. They have a new sound, based on guitars and a take
on country music, and when they are done playing all the songs they know, the
president asks if they have any more. Nothing has clicked...yet. The leader
announces they have one more song, but it doesn’t have a name. But they will
audition it for what it’s worth. And music history continues as Buffalo
Springfield gets their first break, the song you all know “For What It’s Worth,”
not about war, but the riots on Sunset Strip in the sixties. Spawning Poco,
CSN&Y, Loggins and Messina, and others, all Hall of Fame musicians, and one
Richie Furay getting saved and being known as Pastor Richie to his flock in
Broomfield, Colorado Calvary Chapel. Something’s happening here....
It is the fifties, and a young preacher is stepping out from his Baptist
background. God is calling him to take the gospel public, and a publisher,
anything but Christian puts out a two word release to his chain of newspapers.
“PUFF GRAHAM!” Industry jargon for promote him, the publisher, William Randolph
Hearst, the man, Billy Graham. Who will lead more crusades and men to Christ
than anyone in the twentieth century. Who will become an advisor to president
and celebrities, his message simply the gospel of Jesus Christ and his saving
grace. A message still fresh and new to those who first hear it and
respond.....
Two women, cousins, one older, one still a teenager are visiting, both
pregnant. When the younger cousin arrives, when greeted the baby in the womb of
the older leaps with joy. They stay together for three months until the baby is
born, and his father breaks tradition, unable to speak, not naming him after
himself or anyone else in his family. He names him John, the name the holy
spirit has had him write on the paper. Suddenly he can speak, praising God, and
the village wonders, “who will this man be?” Will he be famous? But his path
has been set by God on high, and he will not be the star as hoped, but the
messenger telling of his cousin’s birth, and preparing the world for his
message. So powerful a message, he will lose his head to the leader of the
government, per a request by his step daughter. We know him as John the
Baptist, J the B, and he will baptize with water. His cousin, Emanuel, better
known as Jesus, will come to save the world, and be crucified. Baptizing
believers in the spirit....and his message, the gospel still goes forth today,
by his spirit in those who believe and are saved. But his time had to wait as
he lived in the wilderness and in obscurity, until age 30. The age a man may
become a Jewish priest. And the world has never been the same, nor will it ever
be.
A few years back a couple were riding cross country and spending time in
Pennsylvania. Visiting the Ephrata Cloisters, a religious order from the
1700’s, they believed in the return of Jesus, and lived stoic, legalistic lives,
sleeping little, and devoting themselves to study and prayer, lest Jesus return
and they are found sleeping or unaware. After the tour guide continually
explained this return of Jesus, the rapture, she asked if anyone had any
questions. Meeting in the barn, both the tour and the guide being secular, she
was unprepared for the question, “what is this rapture you speak of?” And not
knowing what to say, the man stepped forward, and was able to share the gospel
of Jesus Christ with the crowd. Just answering the question asked, allowing the
spirit to do what it does best, minister and save. No altar call, just sharing
Jesus....just another moment in time ordained by God.
We never know when the spirit of the Lord will call, so be ready. Not
legalistically, but in the spirit. Knowing God has everything under control.
He orders our steps, but doesn’t order us, leaving the decision to follow or to
deny up to us. From rock star to the rock, he knows all of us by name, and
calls us to know him by name. We too can leap in the spirit as John leapt in
the womb, we can share the gospel publicly when called to, and we can live in
the spirit when we choose to. God will provide the opportunity, how we respond
is still up to us. Today will be the day of salvation for many, but the day the
music died for others. You don’t want to leave this earth without knowing Jesus
and the blessed hope of heaven. He is still in the business of changing lives,
and blessing his people. From a barn in Bethlehem to a barn in Ephrata, his
message still goes forth bringing life. Surely something’s happening here, but
in Jesus it is exactly clear. He is worthy, for what it’s worth. Give him a
listen today....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com