Today, while rehearsing Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev in orchestra,
I was struck by what seemed to me to be a nice comparison
to our lives as Christians.
The music reminds me of the Gospel and the experience of knowing
the Lord Jesus as Savior. If I were to attempt to explain to someone
unfamiliar with the music what it sounds like and what the experience
of getting to play this music feels like, I'm sure I would be lacking in
words to convey the excitement of this experience. When trying to
describe to a nonbeliever what it is to have a relationship with the Lord,
words don't seem quite sufficient to show a clear picture of the beauty of
the Christian life and a relationship with the Lord (and really, the
nonbeliever needs the Lord to work in his heart to help him see this
and accept the message of the Gospel).
Furthermore, as Christians, we also have the opportunity to participate
in the work God is doing of drawing many individuals into relationship
with Himself.
From previous experience, I know that I get so much more enjoyment
out of the music at a concert when I get to participate in playing it
rather than sitting back and enjoying it from a seat in the audience.
I consider it a privilege to play in the CSULB Symphony Orchestra this
school year and especially to participate in producing such beautiful music.
It is also indeed a privilege that Lord allows us (believers) to be used in
a small way as part of the work that he is doing. We can choose to
participate by serving Him obediently as ambassadors through witnessing
to others and living lives that glorify God. When we do participate, we
experience increasing joy as Christians.
We should not be content to sit back enjoying the music while we
have the opportunity to take part in performing His glorious music,
an orchestrated plan to reconcile the lost to Himself.
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All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling
the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against
them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We
are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His
appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled
to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NIV)
