I recently watched a documentary about Jimi Hendrix. Whether you liked his music or not, and I did, you have to admit that he was a musician that pushed the boundaries of music.
It was this young man, only 28 at the time of his death, who brought about much of the kind of music we listen to today. Even in praise and worship bands, the influence of his style of music is common.
If you listen much to Christian radio this influence on modern Christian music is strong. In fact, it is hard to find a place where that influence is unknown.
However, unless all reports are false, he died outside of Jesus. His life was one of drug and alcohol abuse. And not only him, but the music industry is full of people who were like this. Tremendously talented, yet they burned themselves out by hard living, drugs, alcohol.
Why is this? Why would such talented people with all the world to live for die like this?
It is because music is a call from God, a gift. When one answers that call in God, that person is happy. It’s not that nothing bad happens, it is that they fulfill themselves in a way that no one outside of Jesus can.
Outside of Jesus, the music is nothing but self-gratification. Inside of Jesus, it is a response to the One who gave it to you.
Why else have we seen musician after musician over the years die from overdoses, suicide, just plain hard living?
Music in and of itself is not enough. It has to be in response to that call from God. Nothing in this world is greater than praising God anyway; and praising him with your instrument is wonderful.
It is no wonder that the psalmist kept on entreating people to praise God with instruments, drums, voices, everything within one’s power to use.
Listening to Jimi play is amazing. His style and sound is immediately identifiable. But it has been almost 40 years since he died of a barbiturate overdose. What would have happened if he had answered that call of God in his music?
What an amazing thought. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
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