Learning the Song

Learning the Song

“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.” Rev. 14:3.

How do we learn this new song? Will it be learned over there, or down here during our life on earth?

It is certainly very clear that as Jesus’ disciples—His bride—we are learning this song now amid the treatment we receive from God here in our lives. “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” V. 4-5.

These ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes learn the song. The way in the footsteps of Jesus leads to the death of everything of self. New fruit and new life can only emerge from death. There’s no point in sprucing up the old life, adapting to the lifestyle in the church, or pulling yourself together in front of people. All of these things will crumble, and the “fruits” resulting from this will retain the same old sour, reproachful and complaining undertones. If I continue pointing fingers at others, making demands and being dissatisfied, I can be sure that I haven’t fallen into the ground in order to die. The seed that decays and dies is hidden in the soil. I am alone there with my God. Talking about your sufferings doesn’t have a good effect. It tastes of death and it isn’t pleasant. Instead, those who are upright will anoint their faces. They will be thankful that they are able to faithfully remain in this death, and they will thank God for the grace to endure.

Jesus also gave thanks and broke His own will. He praised His Father that this had been hidden from the wise and prudent, but revealed to babes, those ones who see the way of death as the very solution to their problems. The fruit that comes after death is completely free from the taste of death. You will never get a taste of complaining, bitterness or taking into account a wrong suffered, from the fruit that comes forth after death. A whole new song emerges with tones of thankfulness that I could receive this treatment from God: the fruit of lips praising God’s name. Col. 1:12. Heb. 13:15. Even if something can be perceived as being unrighteous in human terms, those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes do not give the taste of having suffered unjustly. Death has removed it completely. Those who learn the new song will understand that, from a godly perspective, these situations are righteous and are golden opportunities to be trained as the bride of Jesus. The new song will not be a lamentation and will not have any bitter tones, but rather it will be a powerful new song; a song we will all sing together with reverence and thankfulness, we who followed the Lamb wherever He went, through death unto life.