Imagine

 

Music has its way of working itself into our lives. We may hear a song in church on Sunday morning and it  stays with us all week. Even if it’s a song we don’t like, it becomes our earworm for the day or longer. In a comprehensive study at Harvard researchers found that some form of music exists in every society. Moreover, across societies, music is associated with behaviors such as infant care, healing, dance, love, mourning, warfare, processions, and ritual. Examining lullabies, healing songs, dance songs, and love songs in particular, they discovered that songs that share behavioral functions tend to have similar musical features. This should come as no surprise, as we all have favorite songs that we associate with certain events.

For the Christian, it is important to know what we are listening to, as our minds receive what we hear. Most of us have probably been buying gas for our car and the vehicle across from us is blaring music with violence, hate, foul language, sexual innuendo and the like. After we left, parts of that music may stay with us. Another potential danger in music is that, if we repeat the lyrics in our minds often enough, they become ingrained in our thinking. 

Following are the lyrics of two songs that have been favorites of mine over the years. “Imagine” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono and “I Can Only Imagine” by Bart Millard. I publish the lyrics here so my readers can see what actual lyrics are included in the songs. I have edited repetitive words and phrases in order to conserve space.

Imagine

Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today.

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace.

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world.

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one.

 

I Can Only Imagine

I can only imagine what it will be like

When Your face is before me

I can only imagine, yeah

When I walk by Your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You, Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine when that day comes

And I find myself standing in the sun/son

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever—forever worship You

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever—forever worship You

I can only imagine.

Different World versus Heaven. As I study the words and the music, I find four differences in the focus of these songs. Jacob Uitti wrote about “Imagine,” stating “It’s a simple thought: what if the world was different? What if humanity prioritized generosity and care more than short-term safety, financial gain and material wealth? It’s a thought we all want to believe in, in many ways.” Regarding “I Can Only Imagine” Ronnie Bennett wrote “the singer pictures what it might be like to be in Heaven, standing before Jesus. It doesn’t offer answers, just a list of emotional and physical reactions someone might have in that moment.”

Dream versus Reality. Lennon sang of his dream that the world could live in harmony. That is not a bad dream. It is universal. Former President Carter, stating that he and Roslyn had visited about 125, said that in many countries this song was used almost equally with national anthems. 

On the other hand Bart Millard wrote of a future certainty. Rather than dreaming about what would never be, he opened his mind to speculate what it might be like when he first sees Jesus in Heaven. This is not a dream, it is a future reality for all who call Jesus Lord and Savior.

Something to Strive for versus a Gift. Lennon asks us to imagine a better world. Imagining away Heaven and hell. No countries, no killing, no religion, all the people living in peace, a brotherhood of man, no greed or hunger, no possessions. From the beginning of creation, these things have been a part of our human existence. We can’t imagine them away. We are fallen creatures, even those who call themselves Christian. With no Heaven and no hell there would be no God. Removing God from the mix would result in the opposite of what Lennon wants. Satan is, at present, god of the earth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 reads “ the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 1 John 5:19 (CEV) affirms “We are certain we come from God and the rest of the world is under the power of the devil.” God has allowed Satan this power, but it is coming to an end John 12:31 lays down the law “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

God, in His infinite wisdom has provided a way for us to escape Satan, his lies, and eternity in Hell. Not by our dreaming of a better world, but God sent His son to take the punishment we deserve when Jesus was crucified on the cross. God has given us a gift. All we have to do is accept it. 

That fact frees us from having false dreams about a better world and the certainty of eternity in Heaven. God is perfect, He will do, and has done, what He said He would do Isaiah 25:1 (NET) “or you have done extraordinary things, and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed”  

Wistful versus Celebratory. There is no question that Lennon was an introspective thinker. Recall that he wrote this song in a tumultuous period in his life. The Beatles had broken up, He was married to Yoko, a significant influence on his thoughts and perspectives.  There is no question that Lennon abused drugs, and apparently unsuccessfully tried to break his addiction. “Imagine” seems to be a wistful song. He may have come to the realization that none of his dreams would come true. They were all his “Utopia” and it was never to be.

On the other hand, “I Can Only Imagine” is celebratory. His abusive father had come to Christ. That radically changed both of their lives. As his father lay dying of cancer, Bart had the assurance that he would once again see his father on the other side. He was able to celebrate his father being in Heaven while speculating what Heaven must be like, knowing there would one day be a great reunion between the two. John 5:24 assures us that eternal life has already started for the Christian (CEV) “I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.” Jesus said “for certain” and there is no falsehood in our God.

God is a just God and those who do not accept His gift of salvation are doomed to an eternity in hell. But He is also a faithful God and your acceptance of salvation is a certainty. You will be celebrating in Heaven.

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To learn more about a new life in Christ click here.

Scripture is from the NASB unless otherwise indicated

Photo credit to stockcake, to Geralt on Pixabay, and dassel on Pixabay.