The road of music

You may remember me telling you that I grew up in Eastern Kentucky. In that region is the “Country Music Highway”, a stretch of road that honors several country music artists who have come from that area. Names like Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, Naomi and Wynona Judd, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless are all familiar to fans of country music. (Alas, the musical talent highway didn’t run through my county!)

There’s a road in The Netherlands which is also musical - literally. Engineers devised a system of rumble strips that play a well-known local anthem when a car travels over them at speeds of 60 kilometers per hour (40 mph). It’s quite a novel concept, and one I would enjoy experiencing. But the strips will soon be removed.

Residents of that area probably thought the idea was interesting, too. But the sounds are loud, especially at night, and some are losing sleep due to this road of music. After many complaints workers are due to begin silencing the roads soon.

Living the Christian life is a journey, and in the early days of Christianity it was referred to as “the Way”. Paul, for example, used this name in his defense before the Roman governor Felix: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things written in the Law and in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14).

If Christianity is like a road, does it also produce music, like the one in the Netherlands? Actually it does. An official from Ethiopia accepted the gospel invitation to be baptized for the forgiveness of his sins, we learn in Acts 8. Following his baptism, he “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). Is it hard to imagine that he sang as he rejoiced?

Even in harsh circumstances you can find music in the Christian’s heart. Paul and Silas were in a jail in the city of Philippi. They had been falsely charged, beaten, and placed in uncomfortable stocks. Yet look at what they were doing at midnight from their prison cell: they “were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25)! They were traveling a road which produced joy, and joy often expresses itself in singing.

James offered this advice: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Paul gave this instruction: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

To live the Christian life is to travel a road that produces beautiful music. How can we not sing? Great joy is the result of being a child of God!

~~ Timothy Hall