Believe in the Lord

During my teens, the Bee Gees were my favorite singing group. Ever since two of its members died (twins Maurice and Robin Gibb in 2003 and 2012 respectively), I’ve often wondered if either of them made it into heaven. Recently while searching the Internet concerning that, I found a music video of a Bee Gees song I never heard before. From a 1970 album and film called “Cucumber Castle”, Maurice performed “The Lord” with his brother Barry. This may be the closest the Brothers Gibb ever came to writing and recording a gospel song. Here’s a portion of its lyrics…

What do you get for trying?

Minute you're born, you're dying

The body is six feet down

The Lord said the soul sticks around

Well, you can believe what you wanna

But I know what I'm gonna do

I'm gonna believe in the Lord

When I’m out street evangelizing, a frequent response people give when asked why they would go to heaven is, “I believe in God.” That’s a good start…certainly better than not believing there is a God. Still that alone won’t result in anyone passing through the Pearly Gates. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” The Amplified Bible renders the latter part of that verse as, “So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!”

The devil certainly believes in God. After all, that fallen angel was created by the Almighty and has even seen Him. Do you think Satan will spend eternity in heaven? Absolutely not! Matthew 25:41 says that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Unfortunately many people who died believing in the existence of God go there everyday. 

There is another step one must take to ensure he or she receives eternal life. Romans 10:9-10 says, “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Have you done that yet?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

Stayin’ Alive

During my grade school years, classmates frequently picked on me. Eighth grade was by far my worst year in school. The increased name-calling and bullying I experienced had me seriously contemplating suicide. Fortunately, I didn’t follow through with that.

One thing that helped sustain me during that difficult year was the music of the Bee Gees. By 1978 I had become a faithful listener of Casey Kasem’s radio show “American Top 40.” The Bee Gees had become my favorite group the year before. So it was exciting for me to see the Brothers Gibb dominate the record charts due to the titanic success of their music from the movie “Saturday Night Fever.”

The following year, I got to see the Bee Gees live in St. Paul, Minnesota. That concert inspired me to write my own songs and briefly learn how to play the guitar. The Bee Gees had a God-given talent that influenced multitudes of people. However, the reality is that all musicians are mortal and will someday meet the Lord to give an account of their lives.  

This past week, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees spent several days in a coma after contracting pneumonia and was near death but appears to be recovering. Nine years ago, Robin’s twin brother Maurice died from complications due to a twisted intestine. Their younger brother Andy, who had a successful solo career (and someone else I got to see perform live), died in 1988 of heart failure at only 30 years of age.

Despite having an “open relationship” with a wife who practices Druidism, Robin Gibb released a solo album in 2006 called “My Favourite Carols”, which contained mostly Christ-centered Christmas songs. I'm praying Robin comes to know the Lord (if he hasn’t already) so that whenever his life ends, he will be singing for eternity in heaven.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9