Hey there! Did you make the weekend time trip? "Let's do the time warp again!" Sorry, that just slipped out. Ahh, Arizona, where they never see a time adjustment to their clocks every year. Hmmm...what's the weather like in Phoenix?
Anyway, we are glad that you are joining us for our weekly Tuesday blog adventure, Tuesday's Musical Notes!
This is the place where we have unraveled the deep, deep questions... wait we've explored some musical landscapes but I'm not sure what we do around here could ever be considered deep. Let's try again, shall we?
This is the place where we have uncovered the secrets and mysteries...no that's not quite right either. We've learned some things about music and perhaps some things about ourselves, but none of it has been shrouded and hidden outside of our reach. Ok, one more shot.
This is the place where we've read together about the interesting facts of our favorite songs and artists and discovered how those lyrics can be interpreted in life-altering ways. Closer? ...Well, let's go with that one anyway!
Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where some days we are content with...
"Watching The Wheels" is the last of three singles released from John Lennon's final studio album Double Fantasy. ("Woman" (#2), and "(Just Like) Starting Over"(#1) were the other singles) "Watching The Wheels" was released in March of 1981 following his murder in December of 1980. "Watching The Wheels" followed the other 2 singles into the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100, peaking at #10.
John Lennon (https://tuesdaysmusicalnotes.
"Watching The Wheels" was in response to those who had been critical of Lennon's 1975-1980 departure from the music scene. It lyrically expressed his thoughts about his "househusband" time as he invested in his son Sean who was born in 1975. He was determined to slow the pace of his life and make the time count with his new son, even if it meant just sitting watching wheels go 'round and 'round. John Lennon wouldn't be the first to observe wheels doing what wheels do...
Ezekiel's first experience with the wheels within wheels came earlier in the book that bears his name. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wheel In The Sky" (Journey)) The difference in this vision is that these wheels are not carrying God's presence to Ezekiel to tell the prophet what to tell the people, but to warn them that if they did not repent, the wheels would be the instruments by which God's presence would depart from them.
God's presence had existed in some form with the nation of Israel since their exodus from Egypt. A cloud by day and a fire by night indicated when and where they were to travel. This presence of God among His people led them through their dalliances with disobedience and brought them to the Promised Land, despite their constant rebellion. For 1200 years, God's presence in some form assured the nation that they would be prosperous if they would uphold their end of the covenant established at the base of Mt. Sinai. Which they did not. Go back and check the archives for details of Moses and the covenants that would become the 10 commandments. You can find the search box in the upper left-hand corner. And now back to our story, already in progress...
God has finally had enough of their rebellion and tells Ezekiel that He would no longer dwell among His people. Ezekiel observes the wheels again and then sees them transport God away from the temple and out of the people's presence. The imminent destruction was evident to Ezekiel as the presence of God was an indicator of the nation's survival. Without God's presence, they would never make it as a nation. Hmmm...a lesson to be learned?
It is perhaps somewhat difficult for us to grasp the tragedy of Ezekiel's visions regarding God's presence leaving them. Yet the Israelites had continued in their idolatry despite God's efforts to warn them through His prophets with their visions and preaching. This would begin a very dark time in the nation's history. While they would be allowed to return to Jerusalem after their captivity, it would be over 400 years before the nation would see the opportunity for God's presence to dwell among them again.
God wouldn't dwell among the people again until the Gospels of the New Testament tell their stories.
For folks today, it is difficult for Ezekiel's "wheels taking God's presence away" vision to find resonance. We are inundated with the catchphrases, "we're all God's children" and that "God is love". While the second statement is patently true, the first is an amalgamation of theologies that distort the truth.
Mankind is the image-bearer of God. We were created to have a relationship with Him that was perfect. While we were created in form and spirit like God, we ruined the relational aspect with our image-bearer at the Garden of Eden. Because of our rebellion, we no longer could dwell in God's presence. But wait, Randy, I'm not in rebellion against God. I'm a good person. I don't do bad things. Oh, really?
Let's do a bit of self-examination with the Bible as our standard shall we?
The Bible says that everyone sins and that no one is truly good. That includes me. That includes you. All means all. Romans 3 NASB/AMP/KJV
The Bible says that our lack of righteousness and sin deserves punishment. But God made a way for us to be considered righteous and sin-free. Romans 6:23 NASB/AMP/KJV; Romans 5:6-8 NASB/AMP/KJV;
The Bible says that through Jesus we can have our relationship with God restored AND we will escape punishment. Romans 10:8-11 NASB/AMP/KJV
The Bible tells us in The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman Matthew NASB/AMP/KJV,
The Gospel of Jesus according to Mark NASB/AMP/KJV, The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician Luke NASB/AMP/KJV, and The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman John NASB/AMP/KJV, the specifics of how Jesus restores our relationship with God and makes us adopted children with all the privileges of heirs of His kingdom. The Gospel according to the fisherman John, chapter 12, verse 32 All means all.
The Bible speaks of the simplicity of salvation, but we make it so difficult. You only have to believe by faith that Jesus was Who He said He was and did what the Bible said He did and your eternity future will be altered completely. Romans 10:12-13 NASB/AMP/KJV
The Bible tells us that at the point of our salvation, God restores His presence in us via Holy Spirit's dwelling in our beings. Ephesians 2:19-22 NASB/AMP/KJV
So what's next? Well, the Bible tells us something about that as well. 1 Peter 2:5-8 NASB/AMP/KJV
Did you see that? According to Peter, a man who was in the inner circle of Jesus, once we have obtained our faith, we are to begin adding to it some things. As you look at the list, they seem to have their difficulty obtaining level increase with each addition, but they are certainly worth it as they are all attributes that Jesus exhibits in the aforementioned Gospels. It seems that we aren't perhaps endowed with all of these virtues at the point of our salvation. The King James Version of the Bible suggests here that we are to add them to the toolbox of the previous attributes. Perhaps going so far as to suggest that we shouldn't try to attempt the next until we have one virtue acceptably mastered.
Add to your faith, goodness. Once you've got goodness under control, add to that knowledge. (This is knowledge of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit that we can only obtain by a study of HIS WORD) Check off knowledge and then move to self-control. (Yeah, that's a tough one too!) Get yourself under control, then you can have a mutual affection for everyone. All means all. Once you like 'em, take it up a notch and love them. Yup, you DO have to like folks BEFORE you love them.
As you can see, we don't have time to be watching the wheels go 'round and 'round. God's presence is the key. What direction do we want to see those wheels traveling? Towards us or away from us? Time is short. People will say you're crazy. Folks may shake their heads and look at you like you've lost your mind, they'll ask questions as they are lost in their confusion. They'll give you all kinds of advice in an attempt to enlighten you. But rest assured. Once you have restored your relationship with God, your response to their queries about your previous life? ...I just had to let it go...
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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