I saw this article the other day and it made me think:
https://www.rttnews.com/3475388/van-zant-announce-christian-album-always-look-up.aspx
Anyone with a rock and roll background who hears the name “Van Zant” knows that name. And probably the main reason why is because Ronnie Van Zant was the lead singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. If you were into rock and roll music back in the 70s and 80s, you would definitely know that band. Interestingly, they are still popular today because of their songs “Freebird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and others.
Two Memories
As a kid who grew up in the South during the 1970s, I used to listen to them. I was a worldly kid and did worldly things. But there are two instances regarding the band that really stand out in my memories. A friend and I had tickets to go to a Skynyrd concert back in 1977. But something happened a month before that event: The band was in a plane crash, and Ronnie Van Zant died at age 29. I believe I was in 9th grade at the time. We took our tickets back to get a refund since we didn’t have much money. If I remember correctly, the tickets were only $7.50 a piece and for some really good seats! Does anyone remember when concerts, or anything else for that matter, used to be inexpensive?! Those days seem so long ago.
My second memory was from a time when I was speaking in East Texas. After the church service, some folks and I went out to lunch. I ended up buying the meals for another table and got into a good conversation with them. Their table had a different waiter than we had, and as I was talking with him, I said to him, “Tell me something interesting about yourself.” That is a great line to start a conversation. I use it all the time. He looked at me and said, “My father was the pilot of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane that crashed in 1977.” Wow. I about fell over. The plane actually ran out of fuel. It was also having some mechanical issues at the time.
When he told me that, I decided to take the conversation in a more personal direction. I asked, “How old were you when your dad died?” He said he was seven years old. I responded by saying, “What was it like growing up without your father?” We had the most interesting chat. I was able to plant a neat seed in his life about Jesus.
Remembering Who?
Amazing how life turns out sometimes. We tend to remember the famous person who died in the plane crash, but we kind of pass over all the others who entered eternity that day as well. In the eyes of God, all souls have the same value. And they are of infinite value.
The two remaining Van Zant brothers, Johnny and Donnie, recently put out a Christian album. They are quoted in the article as saying:
“‘I’ll be honest… the Devil was my best friend at one time,’ Johnny Van Zant said in a statement. ‘[T]here ain’t too much that I didn’t try over the years, but I always kept hearing our dad speaking the Bible… Our dad should have been a preacher because, boy, when he started talking the gospel, you didn’t get up and move.’”
Good job, Dad, in preaching the Word to your kids. But as your kids went down the road of the world, did you warn them? Did you tell them it wouldn’t matter if Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special (a band started by Donnie Van Zant) became popular or sell a lot of records? Did you tell them that all that will matter in the end is: Do you know Jesus and what did you do for Him?
But good job to the dads out there who are preaching the Word to their kids, whether in season or out of season, and are encouraging their kids to live for Christ. They might just listen to what you are saying.
Skynyrd’s music did not glorify the Lord. Ronnie Van Zant stood in front of the Most High God at 29 years of age. Was he ready? Did he listen to his dad? Did he read the Word of God? Did he become born-again?
Real Faith
In another part of the article, Johnny is quoted as saying the following:
“He added, ‘I always believed in Jesus Christ, but I wasn’t saved… I felt like I had my personal connection, just like the song “It’s Up To You” that’s on this new album. Over the years, that voice of my dad was reminding me to try to be a better person. I made lots of mistakes… Hopefully I don’t get to the pearly gates and they’re closed for me. I’m trying to get through them now!’”
Let’s be honest here: that statement is not biblical. You either know you have eternal life or you don’t have it. It is not a guessing game to the moment when you take your last breath.
1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The only way you cannot know you will be in heaven is if you are trusting in something other than Jesus to get you there. If you are trusting in your works to get there, you are in trouble. None of us is good enough to get to heaven. “No, not one…” (Romans 3:10)
So, if Johnny has made a “lot of mistakes,” what does he need to do? Run to Jesus! Run to the cross of Christ! Let the forgiving blood of Jesus cleanse him of all of his sins. Become born again. That is it. Then he will be just fine when he dies.
But the problem is he is living for the world. Johnny took over for his brother in 1987 and became the lead singer of Skynyrd. He has been traveling with the band ever since. It is a party band. It is that sensual rock and roll that we all need to get away from. He sings on stage, and the crowd is full of partiers singing along to the old hits. If you were saved and saw an audience full of worldly people, what would you want to do if you had a microphone in your hand? I think the answer is kind of simple: You would want to preach the gospel! Call people to repentance and not be ashamed of Jesus.
Acts 19:19
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Why don’t they take all of their Skynyrd albums, their 38 Special records, all of their awards, etc., and have a big bonfire in Jacksonville, FL, where they are from? Why don’t they renounce that whole lifestyle and say they are going to stop touring because it does not glorify the God of the Bible? The problem with fame and fortune is they are very hard to walk away from. Your flesh loves that lifestyle. And if you keep feeding the flesh, the flesh will always win.
The Grip
Addictions can be so hard to get rid of. But did you ever ask yourself the question about whether or not music can be addicting? Or if a certain kind of music can be very addicting—so addicting that you want a hit from that music to make you feel good? If rock and roll falls into the sensual category, then it would feed the flesh like any other addiction would.
If the beat of rock and roll music is sensual by nature, remember that beat has nothing to do with the lyrics. Lyrics don’t affect the beat or the rhythm of the music. Rock and roll music of any flavor will always hit the flesh, no matter what the words of the songs are.
And too often, a fascination with rock and roll music is hard to shake. In fact, some people stay addicted to it for their entire lives. Here are some statements by some famous rockers showing what they had to say about the music they played:
“Rock ’n’ roll is like a drug” (Neil Young, cited by Mickey Hart, Spirit into Sound).
“Rock music is the strongest drug in the world” (Steven Tyler of the group Aerosmith, Rock Beat, Spring 1987, p. 23).
“I’ve been STONED ON THE MUSIC many times” (Timothy Leary, Politics of Ecstasy, 1968).
Describing how she felt when attending her first big rock concert, Janis Joplin said: “I couldn’t believe it, all 33 that rhythm and power. I got stoned just feeling it, like IT WAS THE BEST DOPE IN THE WORLD. It was SO SENSUAL…” (Joel Dreyfuss, “Janis Joplin Followed the Script,” Wichita Eagle, Oct. 6, 1970, p. 7A).
“Modern music is as dangerous as cocaine” (Pietro Mascagni, Italian composer, (Slonimsky’s Book of Musical Anecdotes).
Romans 13:11-13
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying:
Making Changes
The year 2025 would be a great time to cast off the deeds of darkness. Put worldly ideas in the rearview mirror and have your best year yet of serving Jesus.
The year 2025 would be a great year to know your Bible better. Read it front to back and study it. If you know what it says, you won’t make a statement like Johnny did about the pearly gates. And the more you know the Bible, the easier it is to share it with others. We really need to have our best year yet when it comes to soul-winning.
The lead singer for Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant, has been dead almost 50 years. I am still stunned at how quickly this life goes by.
Knowing Jesus, serving Jesus, and living for Jesus are all that matter here and on the other side. Make sure it is your best year yet, giving your best to the King of all kings!!
Until the nets are full,
P.S.
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