Christian Living

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When the distinguished American scientist, Lewis Thomas, was asked what message he would send from the Voyager spacecraft to outer space, he responded, “I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach.” A moment later, he added, “But that would be boasting.”

Boasting it would be, indeed. J.S. Bach, after all, is considered to be the greatest composer of all time—even by such greats as Beethoven and Mozart. In fact, when Mozart heard Bach’s music for the first time, he proclaimed, “Now there is music from which a man can learn something.”

Although a man can learn something from Bach’s music, he can learn even more from Bach’s life. That’s because Bach was a devout Christian who attributed his musical accomplishment to his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a Christian, Bach wrote his music for the glory of God, and he considered his most important audience to be no less than the Creator of the Universe.

To the Creator, thus, Bach devoted his musical works. In fact, Bach began each composition by inscribing the letters JJ (Jesu Jevu, meaning “Help me Jesus!”) or INJ (Inomine Jesu, meaning “In the name of Jesus”) at the top of his sheet music. Likewise, Bach ended each piece with the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria, meaning “To the glory of God alone”).

Bach’s music is more than art-—it is a tribute to the creativity and magnificence of God. It is also a tribute to the accomplishment that is possible when we devote our work to God. For it is God who is at work in us and through us; He is the source of our talent. And when we devote our lives to Him, He multiplies our talent and magnifies our works. Our lives then become beautiful music that sings praises to the Creator of the Universe.

Like J.S. Bach, may we devote our lives and our work to God. May we glorify Him, realizing that godly accomplishment is most possible when we humble ourselves before almighty God.

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