The late Jim Reeves was an American country singer who died in a plane crash in 1964, aged 40. Growing up as a young Christian in the mid-80s his album “We thank Thee” was one of my favorites. Among the songs on the album were: “across the bridge”, “l’ll fly away”, “this world is not my home”. Those hymns I still love dearly.
I remember as a young Christian then I heard a preacher say that the man died untimely because he confessed negative things in those songs. Frankly speaking l never bought that. Those were good hymns, even though some Christians may not want to sing them for the fear that some negative things might befall them.
Few days ago l was listening to those songs on Spotify – “20 songs of inspiration.” Then came a song of his l never heard before – “distant drums.” This wasn’t a hymn, it was a love song. I wondered, “did he have anyone in mind when he was singing that song? Perhaps, Mary, his wife of 17 years? So I guessed.
Distant drums, was not released until two years after his demise. Though he didn’t compose the song, he recorded it two years before his death. Why choose to sing such songs?
I hear the sound of distant drums
Far away, far away.
And if they call for me to come
Then I must go and you must stay.
So Mary marry me, let’s not wait.
Let’s share all the time we can before it’s too late.
Love me now for now is all the time there may be.
If you love me Mary, Mary marry me
I hear the sound of bugles blow
Far away, far away.
And if they call, then I must go
Across the sea, so wild and grey.
So Mary marry me, let’s not wait’
For the distant drums might change our wedding date’
And love me now, for now is all the time there may be
If you love me Mary, Mary marry me.
– Writer(s): WALKER. Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Living with eternity in view.
The lyrics of this song got me thinking, “did this man know he was going to die?” I answered my own question. No, l don’t think so. No one really can tell when he or she will die, though may be in some instances, (like in the face of a terminal sickness). May be, unlike many, he was a man who lived with eternity in view. I tried finding out anything about his Christian faith but couldn’t get anything. I hope he knew and walked with God before he passed into eternity.
What about you? Do you live with eternity in view? Do you see things from eternal perspective?
Living with eternity in view or seeing things from eternal perspective doesn’t mean one will die tomorrow, soon or untimely. It doesn’t also mean that you develop a foreboding mindset, that is, to have a premonition of future misfortune, likelihood of something unfortunate or undesirable or always thinking about and having the fear of death.
It just means you see things differently than most people. It means you see things from a Scriptural perspective. And this influences the decisions you make, the things you do, your choices in life, lifestyle, relationships etc.; this helps you in your walk with God and relationships with fellow men. It helps you to be more heavenly minded which is what the Bible admonishes. It also makes you live ever ready for the coming of our King – Jesus Christ.
“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Cor.4:18
Friend, have you settled where you will spend eternity? That is, the continuity of your life after death. The Bible tells us there are two eternal places: Heaven and Hell fire?
If you are not yet a blood washed Christian you need to repent of your sins and receive Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Saviour to be saved.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”- John17:3
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” – John 20:31
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6:40
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” – 1 John 5:1
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”– 1 John 5:20
If you are already a believer, are you more concerned about the things of this world or things of eternal value? If your answer is in the negative, then you need to have a change of mind and ask God to help you to begin to see things from eternal perspective from now onward.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”– Eccl. 3:11.
