"...This is my Story..."

While I dearly love music in all its shades and textures it occurs to me that this 39 year old man is decidedly "old school" where the song of Faith is concerned. Surely, music is amoral. Of itself, it is neither good nor bad. Rather, its value lies in an end of goodness--or not. Because of the universal human tendency toward degeneration, beauty and nobility are often lacking within the human experience. Music is no exception to this generalization.

In this life, there are rare times when the beauty of music has the power to lift us out of the doldrums and to point our faces heavenward. A few weeks ago, it was my great joy to sing in church for the first time in quite some time. With great skill on the piano, drums, and bass, a jazz trio accompanied me as I chose to sing of an "...Assurance" that is altogether "Blessed...."

Mrs. Equilla Carter, of Joliet Illinois, once recited an oft' repeated cliche to me. "Rev....," she said, "...into every life some rain has got to fall." How right she was! How true her words are! In every life, pain, doubt, fear, confusion, loneliness, and despair riddle this present reality. The thoughtful may ask, “Of what may we be assured?"

Today, from 11 AM to 8.30 PM I studied faithfully with a friend. On my return, the house was empty. As I stepped through the door, wooden floors and vaulted ceilings resounded with my entrance. I placed this constraining cell-phone in its charger. I took-off my watch and shoes. I booted-up the computer and headed for the kitchen.

Loving the reverberation, I thoughtlessly began to sing. My song rang through the rafters.

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love" (Fanny Crosby).

My "Blessed Assurance" is found only in the fact that I am the "Purchase" of God. I can do nothing to merit redemption. I can do nothing to lose redemption. "Mercy" is the "Blessed" state of justice being withheld. I am indeed "...lost in His love." Of what may we be assured? We may be assured that Jesus is ours when we are "heir(s) of Salvation." This is a thought that lifts me from the doldrums and turns my face heavenward. It is my prayer that it does likewise for you.

"Peace be unto you."

Allan