A night that struck a chord.
What a privilege it was for Kilby and I to serve the church in Belgium shortly after marriage. We have been astounded at how they lovingly nurtured us in our time there (early 2020), and have continued to impact us through the years. We delight in the purpose and kindness of God.
A distinct memory from our treasured time in Belgium was an invitation to a local community-orchestra’s symphony. Our dear friends Albert and Ruth, Roland, and Victor welcomed us for an unforgettable outing. It wound up being a sacred time for me, a memory the Lord etched deep in my mind.
As Americans, I would estimate we are less accustomed to a night of this sort of music than our European neighbors; perhaps that is part of why it stands out so distinctly. With classical music in focus, surrounded by friends—phones off and away—it was truly an otherworldly experience.
I have not ceased to think on how we sat in that community center waiting for the men and women to take their positions on stage, lifting up their instruments and skillsets, their thousands of hours in practice, in harmonious unity, all dressed and prepared as members of one body.
My engineering-oriented mind curiously wandered.
I had scurried to the restroom prior to start-time. Along the way I thought on the plumbing, electricity, heating system, and fire protection systems in place. I observed the brick and block-work of the structure, the truss system and roofing, the flooring design and the layout of entrances leading to the gathering room.
My mind then went to the seating arrangement, the women who had prepared refreshments for intermission, all the administrative details that must have gone in to preparing everything for this one night. The minds and hands involved were many. I was honestly astounded before the concert ever began.
Awe towards the details of life that brought this moment together were echoing in my mind while I listened to some of the more beautiful music I have ever heard in a live setting.
Reflecting on how much commitment and man-power was coming together for this event, and those like it, served as a special gift as it led me to think on how the Lord has brought to be, and holds together, all things. Surely our God is awesome in the truest sense, worthy of all our worship.
The universe and all time from beginning to end, all places and every moment, are sustained by the Almighty and working for his glory and the good of his people. This is all as a result of his sovereignty, his attention to every detail and purpose in it. I was encouraged to think on our role in the local church and in God’s big picture for all the world, of eternal consequence and beauty.
Truly, this is our Father’s world.
I was pressed to think of the glory of heaven while that music came together, and to think how the plumber who loves Christ and labors for his glory, the artist and musician, the baker and the mother, the driver and the father, the bricklayer and athlete and administrator who do the same, are a part of something far beyond themselves.
God’s grand plan for his glory today, for tomorrow, and for eternity is something we should seek to catch the wind of, and gladly labor in.
It was sublime to soak in those evening hours of splendid fellowship, sweet refreshments, that grand synergy of man and metal, the collaboration of wood and string, in celestial cohesion.
Still more, to think on the power and wisdom of the Lord at work in every moment here on earth and working towards his most profound and eternal glory, was something I pray I will remember until I reach my final destination.
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#JESUSisLORD
In the mind of God, nothing is insignificant. In his providential design, all the details come together. Even what appear to us as loose ends will one day be tied up. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain; rather, it’s a part of the tapestry of God’s world, with eternal significance.
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