I for one am looking forward eagerly to the coming Millennium – the very one which several denominations insist has already occurred or is in process now. A multitude of colossal issues will be put to rights by the Lord of all life, when He returns to rule on the earth. Bring it on, Lord Jesus: I’m ready!
The arts may not be the most important aspect of human life to be corrected by the coming of Christ, but during the past week I couldn’t help musing over the nature of world culture in the coming age. There may be many differing theories about how we will all live or should live, love and create, and many ideas as to the details, but it seems to me there are core principles which anyone who loves God and who loves goodness and righteousness can expect to be expressed and enjoyed.
Just in case you’re wondering, the answer is no, the coming of Christ does not immediately mean the complete end of this world; neither does it mean that those of us who are believers now will be floating around somewhere in space or in a totally separate reality.
In order to create and imagine in a world governed by the Son of God rather than the will of man and of Satan, we will have to go back to the proverbial drawing board. However, since our God has made humanity to be creative, it won’t be long before a far more wholesome, bright and Godly culture will develop in that amazing new age. Our desires, hopes and dreams will no longer be hijacked by a small, corrupt and twisted elite intent on tarnishing the human soul to match their own ugliness. The human spirit will no longer be marketed and controlled by a small minority – neither will it be shaped and stuffed into a mould by the force of a majority. The world will no longer be driven by the twisted proclivities and weaknesses of humanity, or by those who profit by appealing to those proclivities.
Recreation will be back to the streets; back to the grass roots; back to the heart of the average person. We won’t need to seek recordings, because talent will be free to flourish all around us, in our towns, our homes and our own minds and hearts – natural and true. We will no longer be mesmerized and hypnotized by prescribed and contrived diversions designed to appeal to our basest desires, and to the lowest common denominators of godless, darkened minds.
We will enjoy wholesome, uplifting, constructive, inventive theater, art, literature, music and architecture. We will see, enjoy and live in structures we haven’t seen the likes of. Performers will no longer be concerned about appearing to be cool or sexy or attractive: they’ll be acting, singing, painting and designing naturally. All will be done with the aim of worshipping and bringing glory to the only incredible, beautiful God – the inventor and supreme expresser of the aesthetic sense. It will be designed by pure minds with good motives, for the pleasure and joy of all.
Everything making up our new physical reality will be created to celebrate true love – especially the love of God. All will celebrate life – not death, violence, revenge, power, envy or godless sex. We will promote Truth and guard it with the entirety of our being: the intention and opportunity to deceive will be gone.
Models will have bright, smiling faces, not scowling, arrogant, prideful expressions. They’ll work to attract and bring happiness: not to disgust or shock.
Creativity will be truly multi-faceted and nebulous. Gone will be the constant barrage of cliches: the expected pattern of stories, events, notes and lyrics. Arts of all descriptions will be truly inspired, fresh and striking. They will be spontaneous, not fashionable; Godly, not ghastly; fun, not frightening; creative, not crass; happy, not harrowing; revolutionary, not revolting.
Will technology come into the mix? That’s very possible. With a new human nature no longer tethered to the constraints of sin and our present way of thinking, many new forms of art and creativity will blossom.
Therefore, dear Christian believer, get your imagination fired up and begin to let it loose, because within the infinite realm of Godliness, it will be able to soar to new hights, endlessly. The stars, quite literally, will be the limit.
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 