Back in the eighteenth century one of the most popular musicians on earth was George Frederick Handel. He was the toast of society, celebrated by kings, adored by crowds. In 1737 his life took a turn for the worse. He suffered a stroke.
As he recovered he discovered that his music was no longer in favor. The style was no longer in vogue. He kept trying to make things work, to write music people would buy, but things went from bad to worse until he came to the point of bankruptcy. He had lost all of his investments, everything he had worked for all his life.
Back then you didn’t declare bankruptcy; you went to debtor’s prison. Everyone was saying this great person, this great composer, had lost everything.
But throughout his life George Fredrick Handel had been a strong Christian. And in this dark time of his life he turned to Christ and asked for leadership, asked Christ what he should do and in that darkest hour he received his greatest inspiration.
Led by God, he sat down and wrote an explicit religious work, seeking not to be popular with the masses but seeking mainly to give glory to God. And as part of his heartfelt response of gratitude to God he dedicated his work to an orphanage.
He said as he was writing the music he could almost feel the angels of heaven singing it to him. All he had to do was write down the music they were singing. The work he composed he titled “Messiah.” It became the most popular classical piece of music in the world. The high point, the “Hallelujah Chorus,” was sung at Easter by choirs all over the world.
“Messiah” not only redefined sacred music for the world, but also began the first step in a new and absolutely triumphant future for George Fredrick Handel. He achieved things far beyond anything he had ever achieved before.
And this is God’s message to you, whoever you are, wherever you happen to be. Wherever you may go, Christ is already there. “He is going before you” into all of your tomorrows.
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.
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