From time to time, the lyrics of songs move me. Some songs affect me in a quite Spiritual way—whether it is the intent of the lyricist or not. One such song is Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Though not, perhaps, the inspiration or intent of the song, I find it to be a great summary of the message of Jesus. It inspires me to believe in a new world and a hereafter.
“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today”
No heaven…no hell…only people living for today. There is so much depth to these lines. To me, it doesn’t speak to an anti-Christian message. Instead, it speaks to something bigger than a personal salvation that is not biblical, but a salvation that is very biblical (e.g., John 3:16-17, Revelations, etc.). It speaks to a new Creation and our responsibility to live for others above self. It speaks to not worrying about going to heaven or hell. Rather, it speaks to our choice whether heaven or hell come to us. “People living for today”? Carpe diem. Carpe momento.
“Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you”
Wars are fought over national and religious identity. Neither are necessarily bad, but, when our identities serve to separate us rather than unite us, it never ends well. The red letters I read speak to oneness—”There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28, NIV). “Imagine all the people living life in peace”? What a wonderful construct.
“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”
Ah, the day when “the world will be as one”. Why must that be only a dream?
“Imagine no possessionsI wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you”
I have no problems with capitalism and making money, per say. Economics and politics are human constructs. The idea of a world without need or want is very much a Jesus-world. “Sharing all the world”? This is a world with neither greed nor hunger. “No possessions” is not a Socialist or Communist world. I need only look at post-war Eastern versus Western Germany see how those work out. “No possessions” does not mean we don’t have things. Instead, I see this as a world without worries about “what’s mine is mine”. I see a world of generosity and opportunity. “A brotherhood of man”. Everyone concerned for the welfare of others. Imagine.
“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”
A world as one. Yes. You may say I am a dreamer.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!