Keeping Score

Excited chatter filled the large auditorium with heightened expectancy.  Ticket stubs firmly in hand people hurried to their seats and nestled into the place of musical storytelling at its best -- professional live musical theater.  A quick glance at the program revealed the actors, directors, musicians and technical personnel who in a chorus of one lended their talents to bring characters of a long-beloved tale to life once again on an open stage.

The lights dimmed and voices droned down to silence in that anticipatory moment when the audience collectively held their breath for the first downbeat of the orchestral score.  They were not disappointed.  When the music started all were in awe of the full symphony of music that cocooned the audience in a another time and space.  Lights on the stage became brighter, the large maroon velvety curtains slowly pulled back and the story began.  For the next two hours the audience was transfixed with the beauty and mastery of skill honed by years of intense lessons, diligent practice,  and determination to reach the goal of their God-given talents.  It paid off.  In the end thunderous applause met the troupe and they reciprocated with bows and thank yous before they exited the stage.

Remembering back to the days when I played cello and later piano in musical theater myself, I realized something really quite profound from a spiritual perspective.  Music may fill the senses but it truly comes from a place in the soul that only God designs.  There is a specific place where He wants each one to be, expressing His song in His orchestra.  Some are able to find their place and sing that song all their lives; others seem to drift.  I was one of those.  The gifting did not seem to fit anywhere.  Oh, I could do this or that and fill this space and that void, but it wasn't by design.  It was by someone else's compulsion.  Conformity can bring a slow cancerous-like ailment to the vision that God has placed within each one.  He has placed eternity in the heart (Ecc. 3:11).  There is no time for rabbit trails now.  It's time to take our places.  To tune our instruments, rosin the bow preparatory to placing it on the strings that play the tunes of God.

Any musician knows a cellist doesn't belong in the horn section and the horns don't belong in the violin section.  There is an assigned seat and that is the only one you are to occupy.  There are those in organizations where they don't belong simply because they don't know the score.  They don't know their place and worse, haven't practiced their musical score.  The result is discordant resulting at times with pain, confusion and unfortunately outright rejection.

These are turbulent times.  No one standing on earth need tell you that.  It's frightening clear to those who don't know the score.  It's important to study the music.  To be prepared for when the lights dim and the world holds its  collective breath for the downbeat of the revealing of the sons of God.  It will be a jaw-dropping moment for the beauty of the Lord will encompass the earth like a cocoon and in the next revealing moments all will see Him for who He is. 

It takes practice, diligent and earnest, to be a musician -- and so as a son or daughter of God.  He has given you talents that only you can fill.  He has made you in intricate complexity yet with a simple message of the truth of Jesus.  He displays daily what He did for all mankind through you in magnificent colors of grace .  Truly a gift incomparable.  Salvation pure, complete, assured.  No other religion, god or man can assure you of that.  Only Him.  Only God.  Only Jesus.

In an orchestra sometimes you play; sometimes you don't.  There are times of rest, there are times of furious and seemingly frantic notes that scamper across the audience in lightning speed.  You'll need to know how to read the score, be able to keep time, the crescendo of the sound, when to soften and temper, when to count the measures of the Lord. 

It may seem like you've sat in the same seat in your section of the orchestra for years.  Nothing has happened, nothing has changed, and yet the years that compile seem more a like a meaningless cacophony than a symphony.  Be encouraged.  Your best days, your best moments to play the heartbeat of God are before you.  They truly are!  Don't let the devil talk you out of it -- he isn't worth it.  Your part in the song of God may occur for many days or only a moment, but that moment will shine like the stars of heaven forever in that your obedience to the call He placed within your heart.  It will sound out in fullness the story of Jesus to a world that has no clue.

 

Waiting is a big thing.  Tremendous.  It's a class apart.  It's just as important to God as being completely active.  And in honing that critical skill many will see it and fear the Lord.  "I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me ... and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God.  Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord."  (Psa. 40:1-3)

Waiting.  Tick-tock.  The time runs through an hour glass like water from a faucet.  But God!  What do I do?

"Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength." (Isa. 40:30-31).  I used to think that was like waiting at a bus stop for transportation that never seemed to arrive, a frustrating and fruitless exercise of works.  But really, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Waiting is simply counting out the measures as in a score of music until your time to once again play out His tune.  The thing is, you're not only counting so you don't miss your place in the score; you're keeping watch.  You're looking at the conductor, the One who gives the cues.

Look at Him now.  He's looking right at you.  Keep studying the score (the Word of God), practice your lessons (obedience to the Lord), take your rightful place (not some contrivance man would try to mold you into their image), and then watch.  Watch Him.  Study Him.  And you will see it.  You will see it plain as day.  For He has held up two fingers pointing right at you, then turning His hand of love around to Himself, He points at his own eyes while mouthing the words, "WATCH ME."  I am transfixed.  My body is poised on my instrument.  I have studied for this moment.  I have prayed for this opportunity and He has heard my prayer.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  He is the symphony of praise for an audience of ONE.  The One true God.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The Father of all, Adonai.  He is breathessly excited to hear your song.  He is intently listening.  He has His program, His plan that's about to be performed on a world stage.  In that downbeat as you play your part in the a symphony of praise your heart will swell in adoration and love to the composer of all life, of all being, of all hope, and saving grace.  Your life is safely directed by the finger of God who is conducting the end of the age.