It was morning rush hour at the Washington D.C. Metro station. Joining other musicians busking at the station was a solo violinist. Barely heard above the din of the trains and people, this man played for nearly 45 minutes. Over a thousand people witnessed it but only seven people stopped to watch. How much did he earn for his effort? An impressive $32!
The violinist was the maestro and multiple Grammy award winning artist, Joshua Bell. The violin he was using was a prized Stradivarius. Here is a capsule of the remarkable performance.
Source: Joshua Bell plays in the Washington DC Metro – YouTube
Many talented artists got their start by busking. Bell was participating in an experiment to show that unless the setting is appropriate, even one of the world’s greatest violinists may be ignored in a typical busking situation. We may ignore greatness and the truth even if it is presented before us. This sounds familiar.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus Christ describes a sobering view of the afterlife. The rich man ignored the plight of Lazarus, a poor man, who sat at the gates of the rich man’s house every day, longing to be fed even some crumbs from the rich man’s table. When both of them died, the rich man went to hell and Lazarus was carried by the angels to be comforted in the bosom of Abraham. In torment, the rich man looked up to Heaven and saw Lazarus being comforted. He pleaded with Abraham to warn his own brothers to repent of their sins so they would not suffer the same fate as him.
Then the rich man said, “Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.” The rich man replied, “No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.” But Abraham said, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.”
Luke 16:27-31 (NLT)
For thousands of years, God has spoken to us through His prophets and Scripture. Yet, some of us continue to ignore Him, determined to follow our own will, even if it will lead to separation from God and eternal torment. What can God do to get our attention? If God sent His own Son to die for our sins and then rise from the dead, wouldn’t that persuade us?
…Yes, go, and say to this people, “Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing. Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”
Isaiah 6:9-10 (NLT)
The busking experience of Joshua Bell vividly demonstrates how we can ignore the obvious greatness that is before us. God’s message to us is no different. God’s grace and mercy are always before us. He gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for our sins. His triumphant resurrection proved that He conquered death. Yet, some still plug their ears and shut their eyes to this amazing Truth.
Do not ignore the greatness of God that is continuously offered to us through faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 