Beyond
Last week the band Coldplay celebrated the end of their record-breaking 10 show run at Wembley Stadium with a dazzling, multi-coloured night of musical magic.
Thousands of fans enjoyed the two hour spectacular, featuring hits from every era of the band’s 25 year career. Some 800,000 people paid from £57 to over £200 for a ticket, not including travel and food.
As the cost of living continues to grow, how can people afford this? Why did so many spend hundreds of pounds on a concert?
According to many fans, one of the main reasons for going was the whole ‘immersive’ experience, and sharing that with 80,000 people at the same time.
It seems to me that these Coldplay shows elevated people above the ordinary and into something ‘beyond’ the everyday.
The book of Revelation is unlike no other in the Bible. It is a foretelling of the end times, with vivid imagery. In this book Jesus is described in a very different way. The author, John writes…
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but he himself. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”
In these verses Jesus is seen as a triumphant warrior king, unlike the man described in the Gospels. We see another aspect of Jesus, which is different and yet to be revealed.
The book of Revelation shows us that there are things ‘beyond’ the everyday and as we read it we are elevated into this realm.
In another part of the book, John describes heavenly worship with angelic beings, blazing light and rumbles of thunder! Even more spectacular than a Coldplay show?
When I gather with other Christians in worship, we often experience something ‘beyond’ the everyday. It can feel like heaven touching earth as we are immersed in God’s presence together.
I think that people long to connect with something that is ‘beyond’ the everyday. I believe God has made us this way, and this longing is only fully satisfied in Him.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader