Instrumental to the Band by Onyx Conklin
Sometimes I still get chills! I close my eyes, slide my headphones over my ears, and press play. Then at 3 minutes and 41 seconds into the song, the most marvelous sound washes over me like a tidal wave. If you grew up a child of the 80’s that epic moment belongs to the great Phil Collins as he masterfully beats the drums, and single-handedly makes the song “In The Air Tonight” one of the era’s greatest hits. For me it’s just that drum solo—the sound of it at just the right moment.
I get that same feeling when I hear Tom Scholz wail on the guitar in Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” or Jerry Scheff’s bass solo in Elvis Presley’s “Polk Salad Annie.” Not to mention incredible and unforgettable vocalists like Frank Sinatra singing “Moonlight Serenade” or Journey’s Steve Perry singing “Don’t Stop Believin.” And nothing makes me want to passionately throw my arms up in praise more than Kim Walker Smith’s glorious octaves in the song “Throne Room.” Cover your ears if you get near me trying to sing that song at Kim’s range! Music is made up of all kinds of sounds, instruments, writers, sound engineers, and more. But behind all of that is one common factor—God the Creator. He is the master musician and I would soon learn just how masterful His creativity is orchestrated.
Because music has always been so important to me, there have been times when the Lord has used to music to help me understand Him better. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will take lessons from the Bible and give me a fresh new way to look at something. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, the Apostle Paul is talking about how the body of Christ is made up of many different people with different gifts. He uses the reference of the human body. But in the Lord’s love for me, He decided to use my music-loving heart to illustrate it like this.
The Body of Christ is like my favorite band. Some people are the drummer, some the keyboards, some the saxophone player, and yes some are lead singers. But there are also people who run the sound equipment, run the lights, and even those who care for the music venue. All of these things and so much more are needed to make a good concert. And if someone doesn’t do their part, won’t it be evident? I mean think about it, what if Phil Collins showed up and decided not to play his iconic drum solo? What if Frank Sinatra got on stage and just clapped along to the music and didn’t sing? We all need to do our part to make sure that the Kingdom of Heaven is center stage and all eyes are on Jesus. We are to SERVE one another with our gifts with rejoicing and in love.
So I challenge you today with this: Where has Jesus called you to serve in your church, your job, your school, or even in your own home? What gift do you have that can amplify the sounds of the Gospel? And what small gift do you have that you can grow in? No matter where you fit, you do fit! You are needed. We are God’s band or orchestra! The world is waiting for the curtain to rise and see the glorious face of its Savior Jesus! Let’s set the stage for the ROCK of Ages and the Bright and Morning STAR!
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