At a middle school graduation, one of the graduates stood and sang, “Amazing Grace.” She was accompanied by a seven-piece school orchestra. The singer had a passable voice, but the young musicians played terribly off-key. The result was what could best be described as a musical “train wreck.”
Lynn Jones
During the rendition, one of the teachers noticed that a distinguished looking, white-haired gentleman had bowed his head and tears were running down his face. The teacher touched his arm and asked softly, “Are you a Christian?” The man replied, “No, I am a musician.”
I wonder if God ever weeps over us? Is the difference between the way He wants us to live and the way we are actually living so great that His only response is tears?
I think so. Jesus had great hopes and dreams for the city of Jerusalem. He walked into that holy city on numerous occasions to share the good news of the gospel. He envisioned many responding with warm hearts. Instead, He was met only by icy resistance.
When He came into Jerusalem for the final week of His life, He thought of the difference between the way things were and the way they might have been. Luke wrote, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Does Jesus ever weep over us?
James Moore was at a party when he sat down at the piano, flexed his two index fingers, and began to play “Chopsticks”—which just happened to be his complete repertoire of piano selections. After a bit, a friend introduced a young lady to the group at the party and persuaded her to play the piano. She was so good that they all stopped what they were doing to listen. When she was through, everyone in the room responded with applause.
Moore said that as he reflected on that experience, he was struck by the difference between the way he had played and the way she had played. He had contented himself with using only two fingers and eight notes, whereas she used all her fingers and all the notes. He had settled for just a little musical knowledge; she had obviously committed her life to it. He said that, on a deeper level, we tend to do that with our faith. We quit too early, settle for too little. We have a “Chopsticks” faith when we could have so much more.
Paul wrote to the Philippians about his deep disappointment over the lack of commitment by some in their midst. He said, “For, as I have often told you before and now say again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philip. 3:18).
How much difference is there between what we might be in Christ and what we are? Does Christ ever weep over us?
Lynn Jones is a retired pastor who lives in Oxford. He does supply preaching for churches in his area and often serves as an interim pastor. Jones is also an author, has written two books and writes a weekly newspaper column. He may be contacted at: kljones45@yahoo.com.
