聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 In Young Empire鈥檚 song 鈥淭he Gates鈥� the group reflects a universal search for the Gates of Heaven:
鈥�No, I won't lose hope, no, I won't lose sight鈥˙ut heaven is a place I just can't find
Run from the shadows and run to the light
Running from a past I left behind
Haunted by a memory that I just can't set free
Searching for the man that I used to be鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Like you and me, the lyricists鈥� acknowledge our distance from the light, from goodness. We all have sin in our lives that distances us from God. And yet we are haunted by a longing for the eternal, for God鈥檚 peace.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Recently I heard an ad that asked, 鈥淚f you could be anyone you wanted to be, who would you choose to be?鈥� There were suggestions: a sports celebrity, a world leader, an entertainer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After some reflection I felt that I might just choose me. Maybe I鈥檝e tasted enough success in life to be content with who I am, but the turning point was the consideration that with God鈥檚 help we can become who we are meant to be.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In life鈥檚 journey we all have gifts and talents to use. We may be philosophers, social animators, leaders or just good followers, but we have a role to play in our world.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Empire鈥檚 song 鈥淭he Gates鈥� reflects our shortcoming:
鈥淚've made my sacrifice鈥↖n the ashes of bad life
Heaven is a place that I can't find鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Our sins and failings bind us down when we would rather fly. But we can accept God鈥檚 redemptive gift of Jesus to unbind us. Sin can 鈥渉aunt me like a ghost鈥� the song suggests:
鈥淣o, I can't lose hope, no, I won't lose sight鈥ˋnd I won't stop looking for heaven's light
I hear the angels singing when I close my eyes
And I can hear the bells ringing like a siren's cry鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Heaven calls us; the angels guide us, and God often breaks through the order of nature to show us special signs and give us hope. All we need to do is watch and listen for his messages.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 At the recent funeral of a close friend as we stood by the graveside in the crisp September air, suddenly the wind started to pick up. There was a rushing hum that filled our ears. I mused to myself that this would be hard not to notice. In a few moments it was gone.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Angel鈥檚 wings? It was one of heaven鈥檚 moments, a wonderful sign for us. As the song 鈥淭he Gates鈥� says, 鈥淵ou're not alone, you're not alone, you're not alone鈥�.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Life鈥檚 journey is wonderful and exciting. Be quick to pack for the trip. 鈥淚 can feel it in my bones鈥 can hear the bell鈥檚 ringing,鈥� and I know we鈥檙e not alone.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淣o, I can't lose hope, no, I won't lose sight
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And I won't stop looking for heaven's light
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I hear the angels singing when I close my eyes
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And I can hear the bells ringing like a siren's cry.鈥�
