As a kid I used to look forward to the weekly publishing of the “LG73 Top Ten.” LG73 was (maybe still is) a Vancouver (B.C. not Washington) pop music radio station. And every week it would publish the most popular songs played that week. And one of the reasons I looked forward to it was so that it would inform my decision on the next 45 I bought. 45 . . . as in 45 RPM record . . . as in two songs etched into some black vinyl . . . as in dark ages. We actually owned a Juke Box . . . and I loved going down to the record store . . . paying my 99 cents . . . and plugging in the new songs into our tunes player.

Funny how some things kind of don’t change. Now I live in anticipation of Tuesdays . . . I look forward to the second day of the week . . . ’cause that’s when iTunes publishes it’s new music. Almost every Tuesday, without fail, I get onto iTunes and check out the latest “Christian and Gospel” offerings. And guess what? The price is still 99 cents . . . though I don’t get a chunk of vinyl . . . and though I find myself now buying albums more than singles. But I still plug the songs into (aka download) a juke box of sorts . . . my iPod. I love new music . . . I love new songs . . . maybe that’s why the following captured my attention as I read this morning . . .

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” (Revelation 14:1-3)

Oh, what will the music of heaven be like? It’ll be loud . . . like the roar of the sea . . . like “mega thunder” . . . but it won’t be ear-splitting . . . we won’t need or want ear-plugs to “tone it down.” And the music of heaven will be founded on exquisite musicianship . . . instruments being played at their highest levels . . . the sound will be pleasant to the ear . . . and melodies will capture the heart and compel the mouth to want to sing. And sing they will . . . a new song.

I’m thinking the songs of heaven probably won’t come out as part of a “Top Ten” or be released every Tuesday . . . but, that the music of heaven will be new and fresh, to me is clear. The object and themes of the songs won’t change for they are inexhaustible. There will always be words to be put to music concerning our God, our Savior, and our salvation. New thoughts on age old truths . . . fresh verses penned about Him who sits on the throne . . . recently framed choruses borne from the on-going new discoveries to be realized in heaven. As much as I enjoy some of the stuff being put out today by God’s people . . . what will it be like there and then?

And as I think about the on-going concert that awaits me, I’m reminded that these songs are exclusively for the redeemed. The music can’t be appreciated by those still in darkness . . . the lyrics make no sense to those who don’t know the reality of relationship with God . . . its just a cacophony of unintelligible noise to those who have not responded to the good news that “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) A reminder that there are those who still need to hear and respond to the gospel before they too can enjoy the music.

And, a reminder, that but for the grace of God, I too would have no clue as to the “hidden collection” of “hit tunes” that awaits those who have been made new creations in Him. New songs . . . new melodies . . . new lyrics . . . new arrangements . . . concerning “the old, old story of Jesus and His love.”

So, for now, I’ll continue to look forward to Tuesdays . . . and picking up new tune-age that stirs my heart in anticipation of that day of “new songs” . . . in anticipation of that “concert” which will be literally out of this world . . . in anticipation of being facedown before the throne offering up fresh expressions of thanksgiving and praise to Him who alone is worthy . . . amen?