The Concert

THE CONCERT The members of the orchestra had each gone to his chair; The audience was waiting now for the conductor there. And when he stepped on to the stand, applause was heard, and then He lifted up his white baton and music soon began. It started out quite beautiful, each person played his part, But soon some went on their own way; they thought they were more smart. Some put their music on the floor and stopped playing at all, While others stared around the room at all the lights and walls. Some started playing other tunes, some played too sharp or flat, Some even talked among themselves, some even got in spats! The leader was beside himself, not knowing what went wrong, For he had planned this concert night for oh, so very long. And now he was embarrassed by the actions of the band; He tried to calm confusion there by raising up his hand. The members of the orchestra just went their separate ways Each thinking they were doing right with music they did play. The audience was quite disturbed, for what they came to see Was surely not a show like this confusing, sad melee! This story is a parable of Christendom today: We started out as one in Christ, but each went his own way. Denominations, sects, and cults, all claiming to be right, But all they do is disagree on everything and fight. We can’t agree which Bible is God’s word for us today; We can’t agree on how to sing and sometimes how to pray. We can’t agree on baptism, security, or gifts; It’s sad to see how very far from early truths we drift! And some have even now denied the basic gospel truth That many died for in those days of the church’s early youth. They say that Jesus was not God, the blood was not required, Or say that there are other books that God has now inspired. They say that hell is just the grave, that Mary is the way, That purgatory is a place where we could go someday. Yes, many doctrines have crept in; just like that concert hall, It’s hard for many to believe there’s any truth at all! Yet our Conductor wants us back! We have a job to do! If we would follow as He leads, what impact we could view! It’s time we got back to the Lord, Conductor of our life, And put away these selfish ways and arguments and strife! It’s time to come back to God’s word, not ideas of man, And follow our Conductor, Christ, and trust His guiding hand!