Don’t we all have a favorite singer? Or singing group? Or favorite band from our teens? How about a favorite Christian artist?
I have a handful that fall into that last category, and I was over-the-top excited to see that one of my absolute favorite artists was going to be on tour within driving distance of my home. So, I invited a friend, bought tickets, and started counting down the days until the big event.
It happened this past week, and I was sure my blog post for today would be all about how amazing the experience was.
My expectations and the reality of the concert didn’t quite match up. Not because the talent wasn’t what I expected. Or that none of my favorite songs were sung. Or that our seats were terrible.
No, all of that was mostly well in place.
The explanation that follows will clearly identify me as a concertgoer from another generation. Obviously, my friend and I were not in their target audience! Much to my disappointment, the lion’s share of the music was so loud (especially the surprise rapper I’d never heard of who started the show), that my internal organs were jumping around to the beat.
There was so much extra “stuff” on the agenda that the artist I went to see didn’t come out until after 9:00 p.m. If I’m home, that’s pretty much my bedtime. Yawn …
The guy I thought would be the warm-up act joined my guy for the remainder of the concert, which significantly cut into the songs I wanted to hear.
Fortunately, I did know most of the remaining songs and was able to enjoy them, but for anyone who wasn’t an avid follower like me, they would be hard-pressed to catch most of the lyrics.
And one final “old person” gripe – despite the 3 ½ – 4-hour concert length, most people stood up the entire time. You will never catch me standing for 4 hours unless I’m sleeping vertically.
So, while not a complete bust, my expectation of a wonderful worship experience wasn’t quite met. And, horror of horrors, no blog post idea as of late Monday afternoon!
Just a quick aside – I had written down a couple other blog ideas on a post-it note that I’m sure I put on my desk before I left on vacation. I’ll just use one of those. Nope. I haven’t been able to track it down nor remember what I wrote on it!
But God … Yes, those are two of my favorite words because the power behind them is greater than anything on earth.
Of course, he gave me a replacement idea. Sort of.
It’s still based on the concert, but not in the way I expected.
I was reminded of the countless times I’ve been part of small, intimate worship services that deeply touched me with reminders of God’s promises and his character.
I was reminded of my many car trips where either the radio or a CD was blasting a favorite worship song so loud (ironic, isn’t it?) that I couldn’t hear myself singing over it.
I was reminded of the gut wrenching, tearful times I sang along with my MercyMe album as God spoke directly through their song lyrics into my broken heart in the months after Dale’s death.
Did I need thousands of fellow worshipers in a giant venue to get a similar worship experience? Absolutely not. I’m truly happy for anyone in attendance who left the concert with a mountain top experience, and memories to carry them through hard times ahead.
But God reminded me that true worship isn’t based on a venue or a specific artist or special effects or even familiarity. It’s based on the object of our worship. God Almighty himself.
And while this post primarily looks to music as the medium for worship, haven’t we also stood in awe of a magnificent sunrise or sunset, a majestic mountain range, an ocean so vast we can’t comprehend its borders, and been in awe of the God who could create such beauty and splendor? So glorious that we are left speechless?
That’s a worship venue available to any of us at virtually any time. How kind is our God to supply us with countless opportunities to worship his grandeur in this life? And prepare never-ending, mind-blowing God-honoring worship in eternity? Grander than any concert venue on earth.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty,
for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11