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The music of heaven

“For God alone my soul in silence waits.” Psalm 62:1

Today I am writing this article from a comfortable chair on my back patio. This isn’t my normal spot to work, and right now I’m wondering why not!

I live in Texas and know that May is when temperatures start to climb. Soon, I will need the cool air from the A/C to maintain my concentration. But this morning, the temperature is perfect, the breezes are so pleasant, and the only sounds I hear besides my typing are the many birds who are enjoying this moment as much as I am.

God did not tell us very much about heaven, but I’ve often wondered what eternity will sound like when I arrive. Will I hear familiar voices? Will the angel’s praises fill the air? Will heaven have the joyful sounds of these birds calling to one another? What will heaven sound like? 

According to C.S. Lewis, “In heaven, all that is not music is silence.” That is a quote from Screwtape Letters, his famous novel about the work of Satan in our world. What did C.S. Lewis mean? I enjoyed studying that answer!

What is the “music” of heaven?

Freelance journalist and author Erin Rebar wrote a wonderful article about Screwtape Letters. She explained the C.S. Lewis quote, “In heaven, all that is not music is silence,” in this way:

I love this quote because it feels so applicable to our modern world. The quote comes from a section in the novel where Screwtape is explaining to his nephew the importance of filling the world with Noise. Certainly, noise is everywhere these days, found in the honking of horns, the squealing of tires, the buzz of meaningless conversation, the endless binging of Netflix shows and the hours spent on Facebook. Noise doesn’t have to be merely auditory: in this context noise is whatever distracts us from the most important things in life and draws us away from God.

I had never considered the idea that in heaven, there will be nothing that can distract us from God. According to Rebar, there is no noise in heaven.

Stop and listen to your surroundings for a moment. What might be distracting your ears or your thoughts right now? Are you reading these words in a crowded room filled with voices? Are you reading in the quiet right now? Are you thinking about the rest of the day or reading with the TV on in the background?

Our world is a noisy place, just as Erin Rebar said. A lot of our noise isn’t perceived through our ears as much as it is heard in our thoughts. The sounds in heaven will be very different than the noises of earth.

The silence of heaven

We live in a day of 24/7 programming on our televisions, satellite radio in our cars, and endless podcasts to listen to, many of which can add value to our lives, but often don’t. The decision to be silent is the choice to step away from the noise in order to be alone with God’s thoughts.

Proverbs 17:27–28 (NIV) says, “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent and, discerning if they hold their tongues.” Our culture would greatly improve if we took this wisdom to heart. We have come to value the quantity of new ideas and their popularity rather than their quality.

Will Rogers said, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” Lewis Carroll, in his famous novel Alice in Wonderland, wrote, “‘Really, now you ask me,’ said Alice, very much confused, ‘I don’t think——’ ‘Then you shouldn’t talk,’ said the Hatter.” And Leonardo DaVinci once said, “Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.”

There are many wonderful quotes from intelligent, creative people about the great value of remaining silent. Why then are we tempted to fill our lives with the sounds and noise of this world?

All that is not music is silence

If we want to find more of heaven on earth, maybe we should heed the wisdom of the biblical proverb. We can use our words with restraint, measuring our wisdom by the moments we remain silent. We can choose to “be still and know” who God is. Or, as Will Rogers said, “Never miss the good chance to shut up.”

There is a lot of power in learning to discern the noise of this world from the voice that God has placed within us through his Holy Spirit. Jesus comforted his disciples with the words in John 14:26 saying, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

If Jesus were sitting next to you right now, he might want to ask you, “How often do you consult the Holy Spirit during your day?” He might remind us that “his thoughts are not our thoughts.” He might want to encourage us by reminding us that we have a Helper.

The noise of earth will fade to silence

I don’t think there are very many things in heaven that will remind us of earth. The sounds, the smells, and the comforts of heaven cannot exist in the imperfections and noise of this world. I began typing this article with only the sounds of the birds as I enjoyed the morning quiet. Now, as I finish my thoughts, I can hear the increased traffic on the road outside. I heard the trashmen come, and I need to bring the can up from the street. My phone has interrupted my work three times since I began. That said, the birds are still singing in the trees. I’m still on my patio, enjoying some time to listen and type for God’s purpose.

I agree with Meister Eckhart, who wrote, “The very best and utmost attainment in this life is to remain still and let God act and speak in thee.” The sun is chasing me off my patio right now, but if I’m smart, I will take the blessed silence of this morning with me throughout this day.

How will you keep the noise of this world at bay today? How will you pursue the music and silence of heaven? For now, silence can draw us into the music of God’s voice. One day, we will know all the sounds of heaven as we live undistracted lives in God’s presence.

And all these birds around me are saying, “Amen to that!”

Photo by Keegan Houser on Unsplash

Why should we seek silence?

We have adapted our lives to include the constant noises that invade our day. Silence is actually discomforting to some. Phone apps and white-noise machines advertise better sleep to those who listen to a constant sound. Our televisions keep us company, provide us with ideas, and alleviate the quiet with entertaining options. It is less common these days to pass someone on their morning walk who isn’t listening to someone’s podcast that offers ideas, opinions, and information for their life.

We live in a much different world today than Jesus did. Jesus was surrounded by the voices of others and the needs of others, and those voices increased considerably during the second year of his public ministry. His example is an example for all of us. 

Why did Jesus seek solitude and silence during his earthly life?

Jesus sought a desolate place

Where do you typically go when you need to pray? 

I like to find a quiet, comfortable spot where I can be alone to think and pray. Mark 1:35 describes Jesus’ choice for the chaos of life. Mark wrote, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” 

Why did our all-knowing, perfect, sinless Lord need to pray?  

Our Sunday School teacher asked that question and it gave me pause. Did Jesus need to pray or did he just want to? His ministry was at the highest point of public interest. Everywhere Jesus went, the crowds followed him, seeking to hear his words and hoping to witness or receive a miracle. During these most popular months of ministry, Jesus sought to be alone with God.  

We know Jesus followed God’s commands while here on earth, but did he need God to tell him what to do? Wouldn’t he have already known? 

Actually, that question has been discussed and debated in theology on a lot of levels. When Jesus took on human form, he was “tempted in every way” (Hebrews 4:15 NIV) like we are but did not sin. Satan tempted Jesus after his baptism, and for human reasons Jesus probably wanted to turn those stones into bread. But Jesus wanted to obey God even more. Jesus didn’t want to follow Satan. I’m not going to solve this mystery in a blog post, but as I considered the question, I had another thought. 

Jesus loved his Father, his Abba, in heaven. Jesus would have wanted to hear his Father’s voice and talk with him, Father to Son. Could it be that Jesus sought a solitary, desolate place early in the morning so that he could just share time with God and no one else? 

Maybe Jesus prayed simply to be with God, to fellowship with the One he loved. 

Maybe that should be a goal for each of us as well.

The power of silence 

The word of the Lord came to Elijah on the mountain. Elijah was discouraged because the people were ignoring and disobeying God. He needed to be with God and hear his voice. God sent Elijah to the edge of the cave at the top of the mountain. On that mountain, Elijah experienced the power of God in the wind, an earthquake, and, finally, fire. But God did not speak to him that way. Instead, Scripture tells us that after the fire there was “the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). 

Why did God choose to speak with “quiet” rather than noise? 

There is a spiritual lesson about the power of silence we need to learn. If we have examples in Scripture like Elijah and Jesus, those examples are there for us as well.  

When last did you seek a place of solitude and quiet simply to be with God and listen for him to “whisper” his answers to you? God has a voice and wants to speak his word into our hearts and lives. Could it be that we have crowded his whisper out of our lives with chaotic, ever-present noise? 

God’s words are more important than any podcast. His words are perfect, pure truth, and everything else we hear must be tested. Do you tend to study or read your Bible with noise in the background? The first step toward God’s whisper might be to seek out the deafening silence which may cause some of us to feel uncomfortable.  

Jesus got up very early, while it was still dark. In the first century, people didn’t travel at night because the darkness was something to fear. Animals, thieves, and the need for directions kept people from traveling in the dark. Jesus chose that time to be with his Father. 

Why should you seek silence? 

It might take us some effort to find perfect silence. I used to lead silent retreats. We literally arrived at a retreat center, went to our rooms, and lived with one another without speaking to one another or anyone else. I led a few directed times of prayer but mine was the only audible voice that spoke into the silence.  

It was always an uncomfortable feeling at first, but, by the time we came to the end of the retreat, the ladies would share their thoughts and experiences, and it was such a blessing to our group. Mine might have been the only audible voice, but God spoke into their silence through his word, their thoughts, and often something in nature. 

The silence was deafening at first, and then God whispered. 

The voice of God

I always provided the people at the retreat with verses to consider about the voice of God. Three of my favorites are: 

  1. Isaiah 30:21 – “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”
  2. Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
  3. Exodus 33:11 – “Thus the Lᴏʀᴅ used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”

God still speaks to people, even as he did in our Bibles. When God gave us his Holy Spirit, we received his indwelling voice of comfort, guidance, and direction. God’s voice is also the voice of acceptance, forgiveness, and pure love.  

Today, let’s consider the example set by Jesus and Elijah. Jesus sought solitude to be with God, and Elijah heard God in the quiet. I can honestly say that when I seek answers from God, I seek solitude first. There is something about the deafening quiet that allows God to speak. Our Lord deserves our wholehearted attention, and he deserves to be honored as the One we love. It is into the silence and solitude that God can whisper. 

If you are uneasy or skeptical about these thoughts, don’t worry. Everyone feels that at some point. Just don’t let your uneasiness hinder you from seeking solitude and the chance to be with your heavenly Father. Quiet the world for the sake of his word. The Lord will take it from there. 

God speaks. It is my experience, but it is also the promise of God’s word and the example Jesus set for us.

Be still and you will know God’s voice. Be still and you will know God. 

He is waiting to whisper. He wants you to know his voice.