go change the world


As another family tradition, we just finished watching an old recording of a Christmas musical put on by our former church in California in 1993. Written, composed, arranged, etc. by David T. Clydesdale, “From Heaven’s Throne” is always a Christmas treat for us. Each and every song is beautifully and purposefully written and always sends shivers down my spine with the lyrics and melodies. I think my favorite song is “Go Change the World.” It is the first song of the performance, sung by a soloist while the stage is set in Heaven. It's hard to just read the words without hearing the amazing music behind every word, but here it is. Read the lyrics to see the beauty in them:




Heaven stood in hushed anticipation,

The moment of all time would soon begin.

The Father turned to look on His creation:

A fallen man, a hopeless cry of sin.


He knew the sacrifice that would be needed,

He knew the price His heart of love must pay.

He looked into the eyes of His beloved son.

Creation stopped to hear the Father say:


“Go change the world,

Go change the world.

Your light will pierce the darkness,

Your life will lead the way.

Go change the world,

Go change the world!

Their only hope is in a savior.

Go change the world.”



Before God made us, He knew we would fall. He knew we would sin, He knew we would require redemption. He knew that the only Redeemer would be Himself, through the Son. He knew He would have to live as a peasant, be mistreated by those He loved, and even be tortured and killed by the very ones who He had come to save. And spite of all this, God chose to make us anyway.


Before time, God had a plan to save us in place, and Christmas is the celebration of the beginning of that plan. It’s a celebration of the fact that God really did become flesh and live among us; Emmanuel, God with us. Christmas is when we remember that first step God took for our redemption, one that marked His love and determination to save us, no matter the cost.


Jesus had complete knowledge of what “salvation” would mean. He knew the sacrifice that would be needed. But He also knew that our only hope was in a Savior. God Almighty looked down in justice at rebellious, scandalous, wicked humanity, and knew that the penalty must be death. But God Almighty also looked down in love. It’s just crazy to think that the Creator of all decided that it was worth it to bear the rebellion, the scandals, the wickedness and sin of all humans. He decided it was worth the cost in order to give His people freedom to love Him.


Jesus came. Have you thought about that phrase lately? Really thought about it? Jesus came! His birth marked the start of our salvation, the start of the sacrifice to redeem you and me. He didn’t look on us in well-deserved wrath and some pity, He came, came to earth. Came to die. Came to save. Jesus actually came, and His coming changed the world.


Finally, at the end of the musical, the song is sung again. The chorus is sung, only this time, it is a challenge. As we realize what we have been freely given through Jesus’ life and death here on earth, how can we keep from telling everyone? Can we really keep this knowledge to ourselves? Today, the world is dying without salvation. And we have the light, the life, the love revealed through Jesus and given us by no act of our own. It is up to us to tell the world. We must go with the light and power of Christ to change lives, change hearts, and change the world. This is a challenge to you, starting this Christmas, and lasting for the rest of your life. What a perfect time, Christmas, to share about Christ? What better gift can you give someone you love than to tell them of the Gift that is waiting for them to receive it? Go! Tell it on the mountain! Go! Change the world!


“Go change the world,

Go change the world!

Your light will pierce the darkness,

Your life will lead the way.

Go change the world,

Go change the world!

Their only hope is in a savior.

In the power of Jesus’ name,

Go change the world!”

Comments

  1. What an incredible song! Thank you so much for sharing this, Shelby. And Merry Christmas!

    Inspired to "go change the world,"
    ~ Liz

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  2. I'm just curious - you didn't go to Camarillo Christian Church did you? I remember the same musical, from there, when I first became a Christian. It has the same effect on me. Thank you for sharing.

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