50th Anniversary of The Beatles

This past week marked an anniversary in music and even in the history of American culture. It was 50 years ago on February 10th that the Beatles first appeared on the popular Ed Sullivan Show. They called it an "invasion", and it really was just that. It helped launch the group’s status to unimaginable levels of fame and success. Many of their songs are still part of the culture now and known by adults and even teens alike.

The charismatic "Fab Four", as they were dubbed, featured musicians that each had their own loyal following. But without question, the one who had the most fame was guitarist, singer and songwriter John Lennon. The controversial figure would be later assassinated in New York City just after re-emerging from time away from his craft.

Lennon is credited with the writing of many famous hits, but perhaps none was better known than his long-enduring song Imagine. The familiar melody had memorable words – words that dreamed of a world at total peace, harmony and where everyone shared everything equally. Some of the lyrics are as follows:

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

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

Mr. Lennon imagined things that will never happen in a fallen world while suggesting things that do exist likely do not. Perhaps it is no accident that the very first stanza urged that we all imagine that there is no heaven or hell. He also includes the absence of all religion. Then, between these two omitted concepts, he dreams of a world where all just live for the day and are at total peace with themselves and with their fellow man. It does not take much imagination to assume where Lennon’s religious hopes and beliefs lay.

The truth is that just imagining, or not imagining, something does not make it so. Heaven and hell are very real places with very real and lasting consequences – like or not. And living for the present time, and just for one’s own desires, will someday result in forever facing that terrible place that Lennon gave little credence to in his signature song. What should be seriously imagined is what facing life without a Savior and an eternity separated from God must be like.

Imagination is not a sin. I can be a huge blessing and was part of God’s miraculous design. It allows each of us to dream, hope and be creative. But God also provided mankind a living and eternal soul. This brings the unique ability to know that God really exists, to recognize sin and to trust Him to save and direct our ultimate destiny. The all-important matter requires no imagination whatsoever since Scripture has confirmed the reality and results of salvation in verses like John 3:16 and others.

 The choices are crystal clear as are the two opposing responses of the loving, but just, God they inevitably will bring.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."  (John 3:36)

Bill Breckenridge