The Sounds of Heaven

Revelation 14:2 

Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion.  With him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.  I heard a sound from heaven that was like the sound of rushing water and loud thunder.  The sound I heard was like that of harpist playing their harps. 

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What does heaven sound like?  When the writer of the Book of Revelation wanted to share his vision of heaven and the Lamb he talked about what it sounded like.  Earlier he had used word pictures but in this verse it was the noises he heard, rushing water, thunder and harps.  The first two resonate with the power of God. Standing beside a thundering waterfall or a noisy cataract you sense God’s mighty power.  Likewise when you hear the boom of thunder along with the brilliant lightening flashes God seems close and powerful. But the last sound heard from heaven was not from God but by the harpist.  

That got me to thinking.  Does my life and actions add to the music of heaven?  When others see and hear me do they hear a tiny echo of that heavenly song?  We are called to be followers of Jesus.  In the prayer Jesus gave us we say, “thy kingdom come they will be done on earth as it is in heaven” That will only happen if we are striving to live today as members of the heavenly kingdom. By living intentionally our faith, living as Kingdom people now, we will add our music to heaven.  

For me this idea is a much easier way to know how well I am doing in my walk of faith.  In music when you sing in a group you know you are singing the correct notes because you are in harmony.  Miss that note and the discordant sound is immediately heard by all.  So too in life.  When I am living in harmony with God and with others I know if for I feel a deep sense of peace?  When my words and actions are out of tune their discordant notes are seen by all and I know it because I have a restless Spirit. 

Listen to the sounds your life are making.  What does it feel like? Are you hearing and feeling beautiful harmony or discordant noise?

Today, I am going to try and live in such a way that when people see and hear me they will also hear the music of heaven.

Prayer

Lord help me to live faithfully so that my life my be in harmony with you and today I might hear the music of heaven and share it with others. AMEN.

This devotion was written by Bill Green and read by Owen Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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