SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
there’s a land that I have heard of once in a lullaby
somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
where troubles melt like lemon drops
way above the chimney tops that’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
birds fly over the rainbow why then oh why can’t I?

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9

SONGS OF THE HEART

Who can forget such a beautiful song and that special heart-stopping moment when the soaring, pure voice of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, warmly embraces you while touching something deep within your soul. It is one of those songs that transports the listener to another place, even another time. Unsurprisingly, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Judy Garland’s signature song, as well as one of the most enduring standards of the 20th century.

Why does this song resonate with us so? I will attempt to explore and answer this question in the following paragraphs because it just seems that on our own were incapable of really obtaining, or even touching that special place over the rainbow.

ANOTHER SONG

John Lennon, of the British rock group the Beatles, also wrote a song that struck a chord with a whole lot of people.

“Imagine”

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today… Aha-ah…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

“Imagine”, one of the top songs of all time, appealed to many people. It was offensive to many as well, but at the end of the day, John pretty much puts his finger on many of the things that divide us as human beings. He imagines that if these dividers were removed, mankind would become a beautiful family. Who wouldn’t find such an outcome appealing?

THIS DECADE

“HAPPY”

It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way
Huh, because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
Here come bad news, talking this and that
(Yeah) Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold it back
(Yeah) Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine
(Yeah) No offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
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Hey, come on, uh
Bring me down, can’t nuthin’ (happy)
Bring me down
My level is too high to bring me down (happy)
Can’t nuthin’, bring me down (happy)
I said, let me tell you now, unh (happy)
Bring me down, can’t nuthin’, bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
My level is too high to bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
Can’t nuthin’ bring me down (happy, happy, happy)
I said

“Happy”, written and produced by Pharrell Williams, was one of the most upbeat songs of this decade. It reached the number one spot on US Billboard Hot 100 in 2014. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. His song was also the number one single in over 25 nations. Nations such as Austria, Luxemburg, Mexico, and Venezuela; “Happy” truly had an international appeal.

Although being happy is more an emotion than a place, it is exalted as something that we all should pursue; even America’s Declaration of Independence makes it clear that we all have a right to pursue happiness. Pharrell, understandably so, believes happiness is the truth.

WHAT’S THE ANSWER

Unfortunately, the harsh realities of this world clash with Dorothy‘s, John‘s, and Pharrell’s songs. People have been truly divided on all levels and none of the problems have melted away like lemon drops. Nation states are always plotting and scheming against each other while lusting for global resources and hegemony. They think these things will make them safe. From oil and gold to rare minerals that are crucial to nuclear warheads and computer chips, nation states will destroy other nations, or covertly cause regime change to get their “stuff“.

We also have economic gatekeepers with concentrated wealth, that have all kinds of agendas that they believe are the answers for the world. Some believe that de-population is the answer, so they support the mass scale deaths of their fellow man while they imagine themselves to be gods. They consider the rest of mankind to be dispensable. On the other hand, some of the super-wealthy believe that outer space is the answer with the “haves” starting a colony on Mars, or some planet, while the “have-nots” are left fighting it out on a decaying and dying world.

You also have mammoth multinational corporations who scour the globe for resources to keep their businesses on top. Their only loyalty is to stockholders and the bottom line. Corporations are made up of people, folks that have the luxury of doing incredibly hideous and self-serving things while hiding behind a logo. As with everything else, you can’t use a broad brush with corporations, but one look at the cigarette industry, and how they knew that they had a product of disease and death long before they came under investigation, and how they continued to aggressively try to get as many people addicted as possible, speaks volumes.

Another case study of the divisive impact of corporations, nation states, and resources, is the raging Congo. According to a study released by the International Rescue Committee in 2008, the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its aftermath is the deadliest conflict since World War II. An estimated 5.4 million people have been killed in the country since 1998 and 45,000 deaths occur each month–a loss equivalent to the entire population of Colorado. Why is this happening? It’s happening because the Congo is the worlds biggest source of Coltan. You must have Coltan to manufacture cell- phones, smartphones, computers, and last but not least, flying robots of death: drones. Military and aerospace technologies have to have this “conflict” mineral to withstand the high levels of heat that their technologies produce. The Congo should be the richest country in the world, but grievously, many nation-states and multinational corporations believe in destabilizing and killing, so they can take and purchase rare metals at pennies on the dollar.

It also must be noted that during and after the time of Pharrell’s “Happy” song, the death rates from opioids in America increased by 72.2%. Heroin death rates increased by 20.6%. Very unhappy people looking for something to take the “edge off” end up killing themselves in their pursuit. It isn’t uncommon to find dead overdose victims in fast food bathrooms and closets. Truly the opioid/heroin epidemic has become a scourge on the land. Singing about being happy didn’t seem to make any noticeable dent in the emotional landscape.

DOES RELIGION DIVIDE

Lennon imagined that life would be smooth without the heaven and hell of religion. He had a point. Although more people perished from secular wars than from religious wars, millions have died in the name of religion. Even in the scriptures, Paul, the former Pharisee of all Pharisees, was murdering Christians while believing that he was doing God’s will.

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9

Also, Jesus himself said;

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:51-53)

It’s true, many Christians all over the world have been attacked, and even martyred by members of their own family for being followers of Christ.

It’s important to add Romans 14:19 as well:

19 Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Although great division can come between people who accept Christ and those who don‘t, Christians are to make every effort to walk in love and peace whenever possible.

RUMORS OF WAR

War is a huge source of division that the Bible makes clear will dramatically increase during the prophesied “Beginning of Sorrows”:

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Matt 24: 4-6

The list of wars and rumors of war in our time have been profound. At the time of this writing, President Trump has barely been in office for a full year, but he has had to deal with America’s perpetual sixteen-year war in Afghanistan; a limited engagement type of war in Iraq; continuous drone wars in the name of terrorism in at least four other countries. He also has had to deal with the potential rumor of an all-out war with North Korea (that, fortunately, has recently made a turn for the better) which in turn could escalate into wars with Russia and China. Also, he has had to deal with the war in Syria, which again could easily be turned into an all-out conflict with Syria‘s ally: Russia. The president and many major players like Israel’s Netanyahu are pushing for an American/Iran war over Iran’s perceived nuclear ambitions. America is also supporting awful wars in Yemen as well as the Congo. All these wars and rumors of war are just a list of America’s wars, let alone the entire globe.

Time doesn’t allow us to cover all the things that divide mankind. From the clashing of races and the sexes, identity politics, political parties to church denominations and beliefs. It seems John Lennon does kind of have a point, I say kind of because he assumes mankind is basically good and can be good if all the divisive stuff was moved out of the way. Really?

WHAT IS THIS LONGING

Garland’s, Lennon’s, and Pharrell’s songs undeniably resonate with people, more so now than ever, but what is this longing, this beautiful place that Dorothy refers to? An excerpt from the highest book on all things spiritual starts to make things clear:

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Since God has written eternity on our hearts, we can’t help but want to live forever. It really shows up in the young because they never think of dying and how fragile life really is, which can, unfortunately, translate into risky behavior. Meanwhile, older folks try not to think or talk about death because they are painfully aware that their time is almost up.

Mankind is spiritually hungry for that peaceful eternal place that Dorothy wonderfully sings about.

IS IT HERE?

Both Lennon’s and Dorothy’s songs sing about dreams and the longing for those dreams to come true. I propose that the real place that Dorothy sings about isn’t somewhere over a rainbow, but it is a place, a place far greater than what she or Lennon can imagine.; and a permanent joy and happiness far greater than the temporary happiness Pharrell sings about. This place is a Kingdom, and in this Kingdom deep-seated dreams do come true. Like dreams of all our tears being wiped from our eyes; the dream of being free from death and division; the desire to experience love to the fullest actually comes true in this Kingdom, because the King of this kingdom IS love; the dream of people getting along and loving each other really happens in this Kingdom because there will be no darkness. Lastly, those who reject this holy and true love and embrace darkness will be forever banished from this Kingdom. The most amazing thing is–not only will those born of the Spirit experience these things in the next age, but they can experience this expanding Kingdom through Christ–right here–right now!

LENNON

Lennon’s “Imagine” does have some spiritual significance, but not how he meant it. He thinks that when situations that divide us are moved out of the way peace will come, but what he doesn’t understand is that man, all by himself, is the problem. The one thing that truly and universally divides us isn’t mentioned in Lennon’s song. That one thing is our fallen sinful nature; IT must be moved out of the way. Our sinful nature is the real divider, not only from other human beings but more importantly, it has divided us from our Creator. Mankind purged of conflict and left to himself will still self-destruct, because our horrible sinful nature is just as much a part of us as the blood in our veins. As a matter of fact, God in His wisdom has respected the choices of prideful man by letting him reap the consequences of rejecting his creator. The scriptures make it clear concerning the fruit of man doing his own thing—war, a constant increase in lawlessness, betrayal, and rebellion that culminates in Matthew 24:21.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

Basically, if God doesn’t intervene and cut these tragic days short–no one. no. not one. would make it.

IN CONCLUSION

Dorothy and Lennon had a dream in their songs. Their dreams are like an aching in the heart. An aching that resides deep within us all, but the beautiful thing about that aching is—you don’t have to write it off as a dream or fantasy; it’s to lead us to the Most High; the God who desires to be your Heavenly Father. He alone can fulfill the dreams that He has written on our hearts and give you that deep-seated happiness Pharrell sings about. He’s the Great I Am, the Creator and lover of our souls through His indescribable son: Jesus Christ. All that we ache for is in Him.

Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”