What is That?

Perhaps one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for God is the dramatic change that He can make in the lives of His people. As it's been said, the story, the testimony of life change, is a person's own story, and you really can't argue with that. So, we should live with a desire to please God, to serve Him wholeheartedly, and demonstrate to the world what Christ has done in us. Paul writes to Timothy in the 1st chapter of the book of 2nd Timothy:
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

If you are entering the state of Alabama, you will see a huge green sign welcoming people to the state - on it are the words, "Sweet Home Alabama."  In 1974, the southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd released that song, which has become legendary. 

Wow - didn't see that one coming, did you?  Three years later, tragedy struck the group.  The History Channel website notes:

On October 20, 1977, during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the tour plane for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in a heavily wooded area of southwestern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt. The accident killed band-members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines as well as the band’s assistant road manager and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. Twenty others survived the crash.

The band ceased to exist for 10 years, when the group started up again, according to its website, with a new lead singer: Ronnie's brother Johnny took the helm and the band's legend continued.  Meanwhile, yet another Van Zant brother, Donnie, co-founded the band .38 Special.  Donnie and Johnny have a band called, Van Zant. 

So, why this journey through musical history?  The Van Zant brothers have a new project. According to Crosswalk.com, "Two rock legends are teaming up to sing the name of Jesus, driven by a shared mission to see souls saved."  It goes on to say:

In November they released their first Christian album Always Look Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart and includes such faith-focused tracks as Awesome God, Jesus Christ, Praying and Leaning on the Cross.

The brothers say they had long wanted to make a Christian album and found inspiration during Covid, feeling led by God.

"We just said, 'You know what? God's putting it on us to do this,'" Johnny said.

Every song on the album is an original. The song Jesus Christ, for example, was inspired by a painting of the crucifixion on the wall in their studio.

Donnie is quoted as saying, ""We just told each other, if we could just bring one person to Christ, it would be worth this whole project, really," adding, "And I think we've done that a lot over -- to the glory of God. He gets the glory."

Crosswalk.com reports:

The two men came from a family of faith.

"Our father knew the Bible back and forth, and if you didn't want to listen, you had to listen. And if you had to use the bathroom while he started preaching, you were in trouble," Johnny said, laughing.

That foundation eventually became personal, although -- they acknowledge -- they weren't as close to God in their younger years.

"You go out, and you're not thinking about Jesus or heaven, and you're out there having your good time and trying to make a living and wanting the best of this and best of that, and you kind of put that on the back burner," Johnny said of faith. "But God said we go through trials and tribulations. And you know, when you start going through those trials and tribulations, you really start going, 'Whoa, I really need Jesus Christ in my life.'

"And we think it's cool to love Jesus. We think we're the coolest guys in the world here," he added with a smile. "We love praising His name, and anytime we can do it, we're there."

For those who hear the album, Johnny says the goal is clear: "Bring them closer to God, closer to Jesus."

It's always gratifying when you see or hear of high-profile people who speak of our Savior. These brothers are legendary in that Southern rock music genre, and from that platform, they have the ability to leverage their notoriety for the sake of the gospel.  I think of the musical talent they have and how God calls each of us to take what He has given in order to bring glory to His name.

In Exodus 4, God asked Moses, concerning the rod he possessed, "What is that in your hand?"  God directed him to throw it down and it became a snake - through that encounter, God demonstrated His power.  We can consider what the Lord has given to us - a gift, a talent, a platform, a relationship, or something else - and recognize that His purpose can be fulfilled through what He has given to us.  

The Van Zant brothers, after 17 years, have recorded a record - it speaks of Jesus.  We can remember what Scripture says about doing everything we do for the glory of God.