For This Reason 29

[HKHaugan]

For This Reason 29

Willie Nelson wrote and sings a song that just might well be called his personal anthem, “On The Road Again.” Look at the words. It could really be our personal anthem as disciples of Jesus.

On the Road again -
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again.

On the road again -
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.
Insisting that the world keep turning our way

And our way
is on the road again.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

If you put the Lord Jesus in the middle of those lyrics we have a picture of where we really are.
See the spiritual dimension in these three verses about the road, places and a band of gypsies.

We’ll start with the first verse about being on the road again, then next, the places and last the band of gypsies.

We are always on the road, the way, a spiritual path from moment to moment. But there is something to consider when we decide to accept Jesus as being the way, the road to travel. When a teacher of the Law said he would drop everything and follow Jesus the Lord wanted him to weigh what that would cost him. What would life on the road with Jesus be like for someone who has had the comfort, respect and social recognition of being a teacher? Can he leave all that behind and handle the spiritual and hands-on applications it would demand? So Jesus confronts him with a reality He knows full well, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head (Mt.8:20).”

Think of what that means spiritually.

Jesus had no place in this world that He could or would call home. As far as we’re concerned we may have houses, apartments, condos, trailers, houseboats and even RV’s traveling from one place to the other, but they are not places to lay our heads for eternity. That’s true of our bodies as well. Our bodies are just tents (2Cor.5:1, 4, 2Peter 1:13) in the wilderness as we head for the Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven. Are we ready to pitch our tent wherever we are with whomever we meet? In the wilderness of relational unknowns, physical adversity and emotional limitation, the demands depend entirely on the Holy Spirit.

In this world we are always on the way, the road, a spiritual journey that eventually leads us to an eternal destination. That’s what Jesus was illustrating as He traveled the Galilean countryside. He was always on the way, on the road again and again and again. He was showing the way which was Himself. He was the Way, He was the road, He was the path. He is saying the same to us. He is where we lay our heads and find our eternal rest. Since there is no eternal resting place in this world we are called to be on the move and see everything attached to this world as something to use as we travel along the road. It’s a mindset, an attitudinal approach and a means to see our real destiny in this world, the destiny God has planned for all people if they will accept it. His way was to and through the Cross. His life made that clear which is why He tells us to take up our cross every day. Jerusalem was His goal and it has to be ours as well.

The role of the Body of Christ is to be the family of God to prepare the world for Jesus’ return. If you think of the process of road paving or even repair it takes planning, setting the materials in place and the labor force to accomplish the work. Our part is to bring as many people into the Body as possible. There spiritual gifts are the paving material being laid for people to become the road to the Kingdom of God. Each one is important, special, unique and interpersonal in the living highway that is the Kingdom in this world. It’s a highway that is always lit, well-marked and stronger in its love and devotion with the spiritual power that holds it all together, the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is on the word ‘highway.’ It stands opposed to the low way which is dark, isolating and lonely.

But don’t stop with the road idea. “The life I love is making music with my friends.” Whenever we are at worship “making music with my friends” is sharing our hearts in song. Paul knew what that meant when he told the Ephesian believers to “Speak to one another with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in your heart to the Lord (Eph.5:19).” Then there is the preaching from the Word. Scripture is the music score played to allow its words to strum the ‘heart strings’ hoping they will resonate with those who hear them. Sometimes we may be a little off key and the sounds don’t fall in the right place but that doesn’t stop us. We continue to sing praises and preach the notes of God’s glory in Jesus.

But music at worship is only a stepping stone to the music the Lord plays when we are on His way, His road, live the Gospel, the good news of Jesus. That is ‘music to the heart’ for those who are waiting to hear the sounds that make their hearts sing. It’s making the music that touches the spirit in another person. That’s when we get it right. That comes with prayer and willingness to engage others. And it’s not us, it’s through us that the Spirit connects the vibrations to ring in another person. Everyone has a spiritual ear. But that ear may have been damaged not only by sin’s self-centeredness but also by relational influences in their past. The question is not about having to know what those influences are but playing and singing with love and understanding. The Holy Spirit will connect the dots. That’s what He does and a whole lot better than we do. Just relate and He will do the rest according to the Father’s will.

Next we want to take Willy seriously when he sings that ‘we’re goin’ places we’ve never been and seein’ things I may never see again, and I can’t wait to get on the road again.”