On our flight home from Ireland I decided to watch an old movie I had never seen. John Steinbeck’s classic book, “East of Eden” is loosely based on the story of Cain and Abel. Steinbeck’s story is set in Monterey California, and ends beautifully with the son who believed himself to be ‘evil’, finding in the end, the acceptance he had always longed for, from his father.
Although 1 Jn.3:12 says Cain “was of the evil one, and slew his brother” we are all in this sense ‘of the evil one’ and capable of the most heinous crimes. I believe Steinbeck was inspired in writing into his story the truth that it is God’s desire and plan that in the end all sons be restored to their father.
Then the other morning I got a phone call. No name appeared on the screen so I didn’t answer, but noted the call was from Monterey, California. I recalled that was where the “East of Eden” story had taken place, so was intrigued to check the voicemail and discover who the mystery caller was.
It was Mary, whom I hadn’t heard from for many years, and so I purposed to call her in an hour, because when I woke that morning I felt prompted to first go for a run.
At one point on the run Father said to me, “The landscape will be forever changed”
I turned the next corner and was surprised to see a whole new vista (pictured above) open up to me! Where I remembered only trees, I could now see beyond to the river and golf course that had always been there – only hidden from view. A large swath of trees had been cleared since I last ran this route. The landscape had suddenly and dramatically changed, and in a beautiful way.
Some minutes later, I reached my turning point on the path, and as I paused for a few moments to catch my breath my attention was drawn to a bird’s song filling the air. There perched high up on a tree was a tiny solitary bird. I have never heard a sad bird song and as it sang it’s heart out I noticed how a vast area, maybe a million times the size of the little creature was impacted by it’s joyful anthem celebrating the gift of life!
“It’s time for the song.” Abba said.
I had a sense I was being given instructions as to what I could do in the light of the world’s landscape that is changing forever.
I got home, and returned Mary’s call. She said, that morning in her prayer time my song, “Lord We Have Heard” came to her mind. She put on the recording and began to play it. Then her 15 year old son came into the room. “What is that song?” he said, “You need to put it on repeat!“
Let your glory,
Let your glory,
Let your glory
Fill the earth.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Let your glory
Fill the earth
Mary who is a remarkable prophetic intercessor said she believed this song was a prayer for this moment in God’s unfolding plan. “How can we make the song more broadly known?” she asked.
As I pondered further I realized how these “God-incidences” all fitted together.
Mary’s son’s name is Seth. In the Genesis story, Seth, Eve’s (and also Mary’s!) third son, was ‘appointed’ or ‘granted’ in place of his murdered brother Abel.
In the record of Jesus genealogy in Luke chapter three, the final verse reads“….the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”
All of humanity including Jesus, “the last Adam” (1 Cor.15:45) are descended from this appointed son of the first Adam.
God’s ‘glory’ plan is set forth in 1 Cor.15:22 in terms of the two Adam ‘containers’.
“As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
This was the message I was being doubly sent from Monterey – The Mountain of the King!
…..and so we are invited, to be the little birds atop a tree, each charging and changing the atmosphere of an entire neighborhood…. as we burst forth in this joyful song of hope,
…….as the “Amen” on earth to God’s promise, which will most certainly be fulfilled……..
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab.2:14)
P.S. I have responded to Mary’s request by posting the above video on Youtube and giving the background story here on my blog. As you can probably guess I am very low tech and so cobbled together a few slides from our last visits to Ireland and videoed them while playing the song through my simple sound system! The result is less than professional! However you may notice the rainbow like color effects coming in and out of the shots. An expert may well be able to explain why, scientifically, however what to most might seem like ‘distortion’ I took as an affirmation from our Father that our prayer will indeed be answered and his glory, which is made perfect/revealed in our weakness, will indeed fill the earth. (The Celtic monks in fact deliberately included a mistake in their work to affirm the weakness of the human vessel!)
The song beautifully arranged and recorded (and only mildly flawed :- ) by my friend Paul McAree is of course also available on The Ascent CD from us paulkyle.org or through iTunes, Spotify etc. Mary suggested Facebook. Any other ideas? Get it out there and offer it up as you are moved : – )
Thank you.