by Darnell Whitfield

This song has been stuck in my head for a while. It is from a British band by the name of Supertramp and the title of the song is, ‘Don’t Leave Me Now,” from the album “Famous Last Words ….,” released on Jan. 1, 1982.

I was two years out of the United States Air Force, selling cars and trying to figure out where is my place in the world.

I was a music connoisseur. Nothing was boring and I thank my mother, Evangelist Thelma L. Whitfield-Eley for introducing me to different types of music, and I thank my first grade teacher, Mrs. Dobson of Booker T. Washington Elementary in Newport News, Virginia.

Mrs. Dobson introduced me to classical music via Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic fairy tale, “Peter and the Wolf, Opus 67.”

Music has been an important part of my life. Music made me think about the world around me, it challenged me to think outside of the box of mediocrity. Music shared the heart of the singers and writers of the times, which made me look deeper into myself.

Even romantic songs taught me a little about relationships and how love can be exhilarating, and yet can also make you fall into the depths of despair.

There is power in music!

Where? Look at the pages of history and you can see how music pulled people together, countries together and even warriors together.

The Bible states that God had worshippers in Heaven and Lucifer was the leader of that choir, found in Ezekiel 28th chapter, until he rebelled against God and subsequently booted from Heaven to Earth (found in Isaiah 14:12.) Jesus spoke about it in Luke 10:18: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Revelation 12:7-9 states, “7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon (the Dragon is Satan.) And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

The star musician has become madness, for all of creation sees the foolhardiness in Lucifer’s actions that result in expulsion from Heaven, with no hope of returning to his status as a leader.

Song is important to our Father God, so important that He is not interested in your voice being perfect, as shown in Psalms 98:4-6: “4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!”

A song can help us as we go through the trials of life. Songs helped nations pull together, i.e., a national anthem or battle hymn. Songs by enslaved people gave them hope that somehow, someday God would intervene and free them from their oppressors.

The song has been a staple for the church, as it unifies men, women and children in praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Music is important!

Remember earlier I told you about a song has been stuck in my head for a while, titled, ‘Don’t Leave Me Now, the lyrics of the song are;

“Don’t leave me now, Leave me out in the pouring rain, with my back against the wall. Don’t leave me now.

Don’t leave me now, all alone on this darkest night, Feeling old and cold and grey. Don’t leave me now.

Don’t leave me now, Leave me holding an empty heart, as the curtain starts to fall. Don’t leave me now.

Don’t leave me now, all alone in this crazy world. When I’m old and cold and grey and time is gone…”

The song is dear to me because it speaks from the heart about the end of our days and the hopelessness of needing someone to be there. All of us will one day experience loneliness, and feeling lonely is not assigned to the elderly, but all age groups, all genders, all persons whether rich or poor, all races and religions.

I want you to know that Jesus, God in the flesh, said, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.

Jesus will always be there for you, even when it doesn’t feel like He’s there, guess what? JESUS IS THERE WITH YOU!

We cannot serve God through emotions, because emotions will deter us from faith.

Yes, faith is important to the believer. Faith that Jesus is always there is but another act of obedience.

I believe that ‘don’t leave me now’ is but a song of hopelessness, but the song is not the famous last words of Jesus Christ.

Truly, the famous last words are “I am with you always, to the end of time.”

Instead of singing something that makes you feel sad, sing that old spiritual by Eliza E. Hewitt in 1898, “When we all get to heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!”

Please don’t forget the, National Day of Prayer on May 3, and Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, (May 13.)

Live your life in truth, because the truth shall set you free!

May God richly bless you, by the movement of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ!

DARNELL WHITFIELD is senior pastor of Diamond Grove Baptist Church in Franklin. Contact him at 742-1343 or revwhitfield@me.com.