Do you remember when you were a kid and the local television station would sign off for the night? No?
It used to happen like that – after the last program of the night, the announcer would come on and declare the stations call letters, soft music would play in the background and then a man with a comforting voice would quote the poem “High Flight” and the television screen would go dark. Broadcasting had ended for the day.
High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
This is a brief biography on the author of the poem. High Flight was composed by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born in Shanghai, China in 1922, the son of missionary parents, Reverend and Mrs. John Gillespie Magee; his father was an American and his mother was originally a British citizen.
He came to the U.S. in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF and was graduated as a pilot. He was sent to England for combat duty in July 1941.
In August or September 1941, Pilot Officer Magee composed High Flight and sent a copy to his parents. Several months later, on December 11, 1941 his Spitfire collided with another plane over England and Magee, only 19 years of age, crashed to his death. His remains are buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.
A young man of 19 was so touched by what he experienced in the heavens he had to record his feelings and give glory to God!
I was reminded of this poem this morning as I was reading in the Book of Revelation – the final book in the Bible. This book of Revelation does just that. It reveals how things on this earth will culminate and how we will spend eternity. The Lord wanted John to write down the things he saw and heard in heaven; the glory, the majesty, the worship.
John recorded the words of the songs of praise that the heavenly elders and the angels, millions upon millions, were singing around God’s throne. When we join them, those of us who have accepted Christ, we will be joining that chorus. We will be in the presence of God. We will sing:
“These living beings were giving glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever. And every time they did this, 10 the 24 elders bowed down before the one who sits on the throne. They worshiped him who lives forever and ever. They put their crowns down before the throne and said,
11 “Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power. You made all things. Everything existed and was made because you wanted it.” Revelation 4:9-11 ERV
and then…
“As I looked, I heard the voices of a lot of angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them, 12 and they were saying in a loud voice,
“The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength,
honor, glory, and praise.”
13 Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying,
“Praise, honor, glory, and strength forever and ever to the one who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb!” 14 The four living creatures said “Amen,” while the elders knelt down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:11-14 CEV
Each morning as I see the sun christen the day with golden rays and hues of pink I am in Awe of Him, my Father God, who sits on the throne. And each evening my heart is stirred when I see the sun nearing the horizon; streaking it rays through the clouds. They turn from brilliant gold to fiery red and then to gray as the sun vanishes from sight. My heart is filled with the majesty of God.
I know why those in heaven spend their time singing – He is worthy to receive honor and glory and power forever!
God, who is worthy to receive all honor and glory is the same one who invites us to come boldly into His throne room when we are in need and there we will find help in every situation. He is the God of the universe, maker of all things but He is my father and He wants my relationship with Him to be personal.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV
Like Pilot Officer John Magee, when I look at the heavens in all their splendor I am wonder-filled and know that I have reached out and touched the face of God.