Episode #44 - I Can Only Imagine

Tonight, a lifelong dream of mine is about to come true - I am going to get to see James Taylor live and in person. I am stunned at the thought of maybe even getting to look him in the eyes and shake his hand - what will I say or do? What can you say to someone who helped shape your entire childhood with his music? Well...how much more anticipation do you think I have for the day I will see Jesus face to face? What can you say or do for the author of life, the very one who saved you by his grace? I can only imagine...

#SetYourMindAbovePodcast

Transcript

Welcome back to all of our listeners! I’m BJ Sipe, and you’re listening to the Set Your Mind Above podcast – where everyday ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths. I’m so glad that you’ve tuned in today, I am excited to share my life and my faith with you, and I sure hope that you’ll do the same with me along the way. 

I am going to do my best to contain my excitement as I do this podcast, because I simply cannot wait to tell you what we are doing tonight. Ever since I was a little boy, music has been a huge part of my life. My parents are very musically gifted, my dad especially, so I grew up listening to him play guitar and sing our favorite songs on a regular basis. Even from a young age, my dad started introducing us to some of his favorite musicians that he grew up listening to: the Eagles, Chicago, the Doobie Brothers, Cat Stevens, etc. However, one of my dad’s all time favorites who soon became one of my own is James Taylor. Whenever I hear a James Taylor song, I go back in time to riding alongside my dad in his truck singing, “Copperline” or “Fire & Rain” as we drove along. I don’t know why, but I just related to his music more than anyone else. His timeless classics that have lived in our radios for decades feel as though they were written just for me. About a year ago we saw that he was touring, which absolutely blew our minds that he would be touring while nearing his mid 70’s. We were so excited to try and go see him live and in person, but of course Covid hit and everything was cancelled over the summer of 2020. Well, a little over a year later, tonight at 7:30 in Louisville I am finally going to get to see and hear James Taylor with my very eyes and ears. If I could have picked just one person to be able to attend their concert in my life, it would be him. All of these thoughts keep running through my head: what if I get to actually get close to him? Shake his hand? What will I do or what will I say? He helped to shape my childhood, his music has brought me through some of the best times and some of the hardest times of my life. What do you say to someone that you’re finally, maybe, going to get to meet for the first time in your life after they’ve had such a profound impact on you? Other thoughts have also been running through my mind: what is he really like just in carrying on a conversation? Is he shy? Is he funny? Is he a little rough around the edges? I really don’t have a whole lot to go on, but I sure hope that I won’t be disappointed. I really don’t see how I can be, but then again, I have built this man up in my mind for 31 years – perhaps I am coming in to tonight with some pretty unrealistic expectations. I have no idea if I will get to meet him, or what I will say, or what he will be like, all I know is that I can’t wait to get there to see him with my own eyes. 

Now if this is how I feel about someone who is just a man, a musician like James Taylor, how much more anticipation do you think I have to one day stand face to face with my Savior, Jesus Christ? I grew up hearing about Jesus. He was a part of my every day, and remains to this day my reason for living. He not only has helped me through hard times or good times, it is him alone that truly can give me the strength to stand when I could not and has blessed me with every blessing I have ever been given. From childhood, I was taught and acquainted with the Scriptures – learning about his love, his grace, his mercy, and his holiness. But I have only read of him, heard of him, and spoken to him through prayer – I have never beheld Jesus face to face. And yet one day, all of that is going to change. Consider Revelation 22:1-5: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” I wish I had words to describe how much I am looking forward to that day, the day that I will get to behold Jesus face to face. The day that all the pain, sickness, and suffering will be done away with forever more, when all the saints united with those that have passed on before us will gather around the throne of God together. There will be no more sin, no more tears, and no more enemy. I can’t help but wonder…when I see his face, and when I stand before Jesus…what will I say to him? What can you say to the author of life, the one that saved you by his grace and carried you every step of the way through your life? I don’t know what I will say, all I know is that I cannot wait to be with him. 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” I want to finish today’s podcast with the words to one of the most impactful songs by MercyMe that gets me thinking about this every time – it’s titled, “I can only imagine.” “I can only imagine, what it will be like, when I walk by Your side. I can only imagine what my eyes would see when Your face is before me I can only imagine. I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son. I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship You. I can only imagine. Surrounded by Your glory what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine.” 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Fridays, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and video sessions that are uploaded on Saturdays. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from every day, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.