Durable Content

Have you like me noticed that bestselling and trending stuff are so seasonal, actually temporal?

 

What makes this sad is that it is the same even in the ‘spiritual’ realm.

 

How can a song that hit so heavily just a few months ago disappear from people’s memory as if it had never existed? How can a book that was a must read a year or two ago disappear from the radar just like that? How can an album that defined ‘worship’ the other day become irrelevant so quickly?

 

I read books, loads of them, all the time. I developed my love for books in my early primary years when I could only read vernacular books before I could read English. By the time I cleared primary school I had read all novels from two secondary schools. And it happened because my sister in law taught in both schools and so would get the books for me.

 

I went to three high schools and read all their novels. And it went on and on wherever I went.

 

What am I driving at?

 

A novel is a creative work of art. When people were celebrating James Hardly Chase and Hardy Boys books, I would just read one and see the shallowness of their plots because I had read many good books. In fact the ‘African Writers Series’ have among the best plots one could find in literature for creativity and reader satisfaction. Plus of course some old books from the western world.

 

A good book tells its story for a very long time and the story never becomes boring.

 

I had heard of a seventeenth century book and bought it not long ago. The book is more engrossing and its suspense something I had not read for a long time. Its message was more current that tomorrow’s news. And I have several such books.

 

Why does such an old book never lose currency while a current bestseller rusts so quickly?

 

That is the thrust of my message today.

 

People then did not write with money as the driving force. They did not write to become popular. And they did not write for their books to open doors for them.

 

They wrote because they had a compelling message to share and so spent their time and resources putting the message together.

 

And it is the same with musicians of yore. The message was more important than the returns they may have received for it. None did it for self interest reasons.

 

But I want to say something else. A lasting message must be hinged on eternity.

 

Like in my last post, the only thing with any capacity to change a person’s life is found in the scriptures. No other narrative can do that, however well packaged it may be. And of course I know you know that is where I was heading.

 

Gospel songs of the past were based sorely on scriptures. Christian books, whether fiction or otherwise were also based on the scriptures. Sermons and songs of the past were not the demonstration of the preacher’s excellent play of words and rhymes, though they didn’t lack them.

 

It is no wonder that we are still profiting from them centuries after they were first released.

 

Your genius interplay of words and phrases will never last if that is the only thing you are focusing on.

 

I have been listening to some very old songs (60s, 70s and 80s) in the local scene. They are as fresh as they were when they were released.

 

As a musician, I can fault many of them on the musical and instrumental aspects. But that does not in any way reduce their impact and appeal. And do you know why?

 

They were all based on the scriptures. They used the Bible as their source.

 

I have also resorted to listening to hymns a lot lately. Of course you know I love hymns as I was raised on them. Again their lasting power is due to their fidelity to the scriptures. This is why a 600 year old song is still as fresh as it was then.

 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40: 7, 8)

 

In short, the durability of your production is dependent on the product it is carrying. Creativity on its own is a poor substitute for the everlasting word of God.

 

Incidentally that is what determines the longevity of one’s creativity.

 

Books based on the word last long. Songs based on the word never grow old.

 

Or have you never wondered why a book as old as the Bible is still the best read and quoted book in the world. And it is not only read by believers. You might be surprised to learn that its critics read and quote it more than very many believers.

 

The simple reason is that it is the word of God, God who is timeless.

 

Will we commit our creativity to the Lordship of Christ? Will we allow it to submit under the word of God?

 

Otherwise we will be producing works that will not last. We will be blazing for a moment instead of providing light long after we die.

 

You see, a shooting star can be very bright, but only for a second or two. Those twinkling stars may be dim, but they have been at it long before man was created. They have been used to guide travelers long before google maps were created, even before the compass and other navigational aids came about. Remember they were the ones who guided the magi to the Savior?

 

Blazing is not wrong. But a consistent twinkle is more profitable than that short blaze.

 

Do you want your book to minister after you die? Do you want your songs to draw people to Christ beyond your grandchildren?

 

Then use the scriptures. They are the only raw material for lasting impact whether they have any likes on social media or not.

 

But you must read and obey the scriptures to be able to do that. You cannot casually be looking at the Bible and expect to come up with Biblically relevant material.

 

Part of the ministry we will be involved in is raising Gospel musicians in the centre God is putting up for us, from instrumentalists to composers to singers.

 

Then we will have wholesome Bible centred music ministers for this generation.

 

You see, it does not really matter whether you will wow your audience with that mastery of your spin of words or instruments, or even slick dance moves (where did that come from?) if nothing of eternal value is produced from the same.

 

Jesus said we shall be known by our fruit, fruit that is never produced in an instant. Our heavenly assessment is therefore not done when we are performing (preaching, singing, writing, etc.) but long after we have left the scene to give the seed time to sprout and grow until it produces fruit after the seed we sowed in that instant.

 

Will your ministry outlast you?