Singing the Same Old Song

All Saints

November 3, 2013

Revelation 7:10

Singing the Same Old Song

In the name of Jesus.

I.

And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,

who is seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:10)

The only thing that Death can do is turn up the volume. Because of Christ's death that ripped away Death's power, every time Death comes to another believer, it fails and instead makes the heavenly host of believers larger and louder. Every day more saints die and in heaven the number of singers increase. The choir gets bigger with each passing day.

But the chorus is incomplete. As long as Time continues there are basses missing and altos and sopranos and tenors absent. The huge heavenly choir room has empty chairs, just waiting for Death to fill them in. And as each day goes by, there are less and less spots to fill.

The clock is ticking and singers on both sides of Death are waiting, some waiting to go and some waiting for us.

II.

And in the middle of all this waiting is the Maestro, the Master Singer, Jesus Christ.

All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God. (Revelation 7:11)

The early Church knew Death. Death was always around, so the early believers wanted to practice the songs that they would sing after Death came. And so over many years the liturgy of the Church was gathered together from God's Word and was sung by God's gathered guests. They came to church to sing His Word in song.

And so the liturgy practices us for heaven by singing, “Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” and “Lord, have mercy on us!” and “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” and “O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the word, have mercy on us” and “Lord, now You let Your servant depart in peace” and much more.

The saints in heaven sing the liturgy and so the saints on earth wisely join them, so that when Death comes and when Time ends, we depart in peace singing the same old songs that we used to sing before the Real Presence of Christ on the altar, now before His throne, forever and ever. Amen.

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.